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UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



THE 




- O wad some poWr the giftie gie as, 
To see oursels as others see us " 



Se« p. 22. 



THE 



PATENT HAT: 



TO PEOMOTE THE GEOWTH OF CEETAIN UNDEVELOPED 

BUMPS, AND THEEEBY INCEEASE THE THINKING, 

SEASONING, ACTING POWEE OF 

THE WEAEEE. 



FOR THE USE OF MANKIND IN GENERAL, AND THE 
CLERGY IN PARTICULAR. 

AND WARRANTED TO DO GOOD SERVICE TO ALL WHO WEAR IT 
ACCORDING TO DIRECTIONS. 



" A soul without reflection, like a pile 
"Without inhabitant, to ruin runs." 



PUBLISHED FOR THE AUTHOR 

BY OABLTON AND PHILLIPS, Q00 MtJXBEBBY-ST, 

1855. 



1SOO, ,* 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1855, 
BY ELLIS BALLOU, 

in the Clerk's Office of the District Court of the United States for 
the Southern District of New- York. 



LC Control Number 




1! 

tmp96 027361 



TO THE 



tin. %. j$, Hagfott, 



WHO IS LABOURING SO ZEALOUSLY FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OP 
LEARNING AND RELIGION, 

THIS LITTLE WORK 

IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED BY HIS FRIEND, 

THE AUTHOR. 



THE PATENT HAT 



ITS ORIGIN, DESIGN, AND STRUCTURE, WITH DIBECTIONS 
FOR WEARING IT. 



The Author having observed the sluggishness 
of many persons who appear desirous of per- 
forming their duty, but for some reason seem 
almost powerless, was induced to study into the 
cause, and find, if possible, why it is that they 
live to so little purpose in the world. And thus 
having convinced himself that this deplorable 
evil is produced by an inactivity of the brain, 
his next concern was to find out a remedy. This 
led to the invention of The Patent Hat, which 
is designed to act upon the head of the wearer 
in the following manner : — This Hat is so con- 
structed as to rub the thick, unsound protrusions 
of the cranium, and infuse into them a matter 
that will cause the swelling to subside. This 
being accomplished, it will rub other points, 
which before could not be touched, and cause 
them to expand, thus giving to the brain a proper 



8 THE PATENT HAT. 

shape for energetic and untiring action. The 
Patent Hat is got up on a new plan, being in 
three detached parts, which fit neatly together, 
rendering it serviceable for general use * and 
every-day wear. 

Part I. is designed more particularly to act 
upon the skulls of clergymen. 

Part II. is calculated to exert an influence on 
the craniums of the balance of mankind, and 
especially those of church members. 

Part III. is the outside covering, and is de- 
signed for a support and protection against blows 
and storms. It is expected that this Hat will at 
first feel very hard and inflexible on the heads 
of many persons, and may, perhaps, so rub their 
prominent bumps that it will cause them loudly 
to complain. And, no doubt, some of them will 
cry out bitterly against its unbrushed appear- 
ance, and set themselves down to picking at the 
fur, to see how many flaws they can find. The 
manufacturer is well aware that it is not so slick 
as some of the hats now offered to the public ; 
but let it be remembered that the most polished 
are not always the most serviceable. Indeed it 
is very evident that some of the glossy ones are 

9 By the term general use is implied that of the whole race 
of the genus homo, without distinction of color, sect, sex. 



THE PATENT HAT. 9 

got up merely for speculation, and, instead of 
benefiting the head of the wearer, do it a serious 
injury. He has, therefore, used great caution in 
procuring all the foreign articles that have en- 
tered into the composition of The Patent Hat 
from the most reliable sources, and has since 
had the whole inspected by the most competent 
judges. However, that his customers may be 
assured, with the utmost confidence, that he has 
not been imposed upon by such as deal in spu- 
rious articles, references are given to the estab- 
ments from whence they were obtained. And 
the wearer, if he is not already perfectly ac- 
quainted with the character of the great estab- 
lishment so frequently referred to, and which the 
author has no hesitancy in saying is altogether 
the best in the land, is requested to form such an 
acquaintance without delay. Yea, all are earnest- 
ly entreated to examine the packages from which 
the author has selected his articles, as it is alone 
on the power of these, and the favor of the great 
founder of that establishment, that the efficacy 
of this Hat depends. Let no person throw it 
down, and say it is injurious to the head, be- 
cause, in trying it on, he finds it to rub his over- 
grown, perverted bumps ; but let him continue 
to wear it, applying the meanwhile a balm, 



10 THE PATENT HAT. 

which may be procured, gratis, at the aforesaid 
establishment, and he will soon find that not 
only his head, but also his heart, has been 
greatly benefited. 

Hoping and praying that The Patent Hat may 
prove beneficial to his fellow-men, by causing a 
few, at least, to consider more seriously what is 
required at their hands, and to act more ener- 
getically in performing those requirements, it is 
respectfully offered to their use by the author. 

Philo. 



CONTENTS 



PAET I. 

Invocation to the Great Shepherd of Souls — The Subject proposed — 
The Lord wills that men should be saved by the Simple Act of 
preaching, but nowhere intimates that foolish Preaching is neces- 
sary — The Great Responsibility of the Pastor's Station, and his 
Glorious Reward if faithful to his Charge — What this should act- 
uate him to do — Allusion to the Former Custom of Eastern Shep- 
herds — How Christ's Shepherds should attend to their Flocks and 
hunt up Wandering Sheep — This sufficient to engross their Time — 
The Devil's Success as a Teacher of the Idle — Some Things to be 
considered by him, who is about offering his Services as a Leader 
in the Heavenly Warfare — Allusion to the Responsibilities of Mili- 
tary Generals — Necessity of Christ's Generals being skilled in 
Christian Tactics — The same Gifts not bestowed on all — He who 
hath but one Talent should improve it, but not aspire to soar higher 
than he who hath two, lest in his lofty flight he get too near the 
Sun — Some work against Nature and Reason, and consequently 
accomplish little or nothing — The necessity of putting on the 
Whole Armor — The Power thus gained — How some Preachers at- 
tempt to take the World by storm, and how others through fear 
of raising Excitement, preach their Hearers asleep — The Medium 
Class — How that Minister must act who would do all in his Power 
for the Glory of God — A Little Learning and a Deal of Pride dan- 
gerous to Clergymen — The Ludicrous Manner of some Preachers 
described, and their Hearers exhorted to bear it patiently — En- 
couragement to such as desire to mend their Ways — A properly- 
qualified Minister, God's noblest Work — No one need hope to be 
successful in his Calling without putting forth his own Exertions, 
1* 



12 CONTENTS. 

but by using all Means in his Power to qualify himself for Use- 
fulness, will accomplish what God has assigned him to do — Indo- 
lent Preachers shamed, and exhorted to arouse from their Leth- 
argy — Enumeration of Various Duties connected with the Minis- 
try — Preachers should seriously consider their Actions, lest one 
Soul should be eternally lost through their Neglect. Page 17 



PART II. 

Invocation to the Ruler of Earth and Skies for aid in the Work 
here proposed — Contentions between the Different Branches of 
the Christian Church noticed — How tenaciously some regard the 
views of their Leader, and condemn the Opinions of all others as 
heretical — No marvel that some live out of the Church— Impropri- 
ety of such a Course illustrated — All going right who labor for the 
Advancement of Christianity, and whose Labors are owned and 
blessed of God in the Regeneration of Souls — Duty of all to lay 
aside Prejudice, and search the Scriptures for Truth — The Daily 
Walk and Actions of many Churchmen inconsistent with their Pro- 
fession — A certain Class compared to Unruly Children — Church 
Aristocracy — Domestic Affairs — Husband — Wife — Children — Ser- 
vants — Masters — Railers — The Christian Church compared to a 
Noble Ship engaged in saving the Passengers and Crew of a 
wrecked Vessel — Ignorance of the Laws of our Land not taken as 
an Excuse for their Violation; likewise he who neglects to read 
the Bible cannot hope to be pardoned for the Violation of the 
Divine Law, through the Plea of Ignorance — Tricks of the Devil 
to deceive the People — Who are secure — Duty of all to hear God's 
Word expounded as often as convenient — Excuses made by some 
for not attending Public Worship — Some always too late — Various 
Objects different Persons have in view, in going to Church — Who 
go aright — Duty of the People to do everything in their power 
to enable him to set them a Holy Example — Argument of a Penu- 
rious Brother against paying Preachers — Duty of Church Mem- 
bers to supply the Wants of their Pastor, and free him from all 
Cares arising from a lack of this World's Blessings — Their duty 
to render each other Assistance whenever in need, to love as 
becometh Christians, and thus let their Light shine before the 
World 34 



CONTENTS. 13 

PAET III. 
CHAPTER I. 

State of Learning and Religion at the Time of Christ's Advent — 
Greek and Roman Literature — The Jews ; their Expectation of 
the Messiah, previous to his Advent; why they rejected him — 
The Circumstance of Christ's choosing Fishermen for Apostles 
shown to be a Poor Argument against an Educated Ministry — 
Means instituted by the Saviour for the Spread and Defense of the 
Gospel, after he should leave the World — Duty of Preachers to 
make use of those Means ; also to consider their frailty, and not 
trust in an Arm of Flesh — Paul's Advice to his Pupil — Christ's 
Counsel to the Twelve — The weak Things, also the great ones of 
the World ; examples, Paul and Felix — The former's Manner of 
reasoning worthy of imitation — Pleasures and Profit to be sacri- 
ficed when they stand in the Way of Usefulness — Antony and 
Luther , , , Page 61 



CHAPTER H. 

Power of working Miracles — Erection of Seminaries in the First 
Century — Mark Clemens — Josephus — Second Century — Justin 
Martyr — Polycarp — Irenseus — Learning opposed by the Ascetics ; 
the Result — Montanus — Tertullian — Third Century — Origen — 
Julius Africanus — Cyprian — Influence of the Labors of the 
Learned — Decline of Literature — Neander's Testimony concern- 
ing the Support of Ministers in early Times — Usurpation of Power 
by the Clergy — Origin of Celibacy among them — Fourth Century 
— Constantine the Great — Julian the Apostate — Election of Min- 
isters — Eusebius — Basil — Chrysostom — Jerome — Theodosius the 
Great — Antony — Dionysius — Fifth Century — Cyril — Isadore — 
Theodorus — Leo I. — Mosheim's Testimony concerning Purga- 
tory 78 



CHAPTER m. 

Deplorable State of Learning, and Christianity in the Sixth Century 
— Extinction of Modern Platonism — Aristotelian Philosophy re- 
vived — Seventh Century — Mohammed^-Origin of the Doctrine of 



14 CONTENTS. 

Infallibility in the Church of Rome — Eighth Century — Charle- 
magne — Boniface — Ninth Century — Revival of Learning and Re- 
ligion — Relapses again into Idolatry — Prosperous Reign of the 
Grecian Emperor Basilius — Gibbon's Testimony concerning some 
of the Happy Results of Christianity — Tenth Century, the dark- 
est of the Dark Ages — Dambrowska — Anne — Woman's Influ- 
ence — Theophylact, Anecdote of— Gerbert — Eleventh Century — 
Revival of Literature — Peter the Hermit — Twelfth Century — 
Origin of Indulgences— Thirteenth Century— Roger Bacon — Court 
of Inquisition instituted — Transubstantiation introduced — An 
account of Private Confessions — Fourteenth Century — Decline of 
Pontifical Power — Boniface VDH. — Philip— De Nogaret — Bene- 
dict XI.— John Wielrf.. Page 96 



CHAPTER IV. 

Fifteenth Century — John Huss ; his Dying Words — Jerome of Prague 
— Christopher Columbus — Art of Printing discovered — Sixteenth 
Century — Martin Luther — Ursula, "the Pious Shunammite " — 
Zwingle — The Discussion between the Great Reformers concern- 
ing the Emblems of the Eucharist— John Calvin 120 



CHAPTER V. 

Efforts of the Pope to regain his Declining Power — The Bloody 
Mary — Dr. Cole's Adventure — Elizabeth Edmonds — Queen Eliza- 
beth — The New Order of Prophets and Apostles — Munzer's In- 
glorious Rebellion, and the Slaughter of his Wretched Army — 
Grebel, the Fanatical Immersionist — Zwingle resorts to Carnal 
Weapons— Fatal Issue 143 



CHAPTER VI. 

Seventeenth Century — The Golden Age — Galileo — Sir Isaac Newton 
—George Fox— William Penn— Eighteenth Century— John Wes- 
ley — George Whitefield — An Inquiry, Why there are so few such 
Men now-a-days — Demosthenes — His Labor to become an Orator 
—Numerous other Instances of a similar Kind., 158 



CONTENTS. 15 



CHAPTER VH. 

Praeceps and Prudens, an Allegory — Its Application — Necessity of 
a Preparation to go forth into the Great ^Field of Action — Exam- 
ples — Excnses of some for their Incompetency to Labor effect- 
ually — Origin of the Proverb, "Preachers generally raise Bad 
Boys" — Duty of Church Members to see to the Wants of their 
Pastors Page 170 



CHAPTER Vm. 

An Appeal to Christians to cease their quarreling with each other, 
and unite their Forces in driving back the Powers of Darkness — 
Some Questions proposed to a Certain Class of Dignitaries who 
profess to be laboring for the Advancement of Christianity, but 
at the same Time are far from trying to enlighten the Minds of 
the People — The Reason why they wish to keep them in Igno- 
rance — Some of the Distinguishing Features between this Class 
of Benighted Professors and those who enjoy the Light and Lib- 
erty of the Gospel — The Necessity of Protestant Christians 
making use of the High Privileges which they enjoy, lest they 
be taken from them — The Duty of Protestants to pray for those 
who are in Authority in the Catholic Church 196 



CHAPTER LX. 

A Brief Recapitulation of some of the Leading Objects observed in 
the Hasty Journey — The Reader called upon to consider their 
bearing — A Call upon Christian Ministers to lay aside their Preju- 
dices, and Labor for the Unity of the Church and for the Sal- 
vation of Souls — The Inconsistencies of some illustrated — An 
Appeal to the Reader — Every one something of Importance to 
perform — Necessity of attending to Small Duties — Momentous 
Consequences resulting from Small Acts ; Anecdote illustrative 
of this — Conclusion 214 



Illtt*trati0it0. 



Page 

Title Page 2 

Home, Sweet Home 41 

Theophylact going to see the Colt 106 

Pr-eceps taking his Rest 177 



THE PATENT HAT 



PART I 



thou, great Shepherd of the souls of men, 
Direct, I pray, my now uplifted pen, 
With which I would thy servants' pathway mark, — 
Without thy aid 't will only make it dark : 
But if my prayer to answer thou wilt deign, 
'T will tend to enlighten, and to make it plain ; 
By showing sloughs, which, if with care they shun, 
The Christian course in triumph they will run. 
First, I would show, in this my humble song, 
Where some, who 'd fain do right, are doing wrong ; 
Why some, who try thy Sacred Word to preach, 
Have no success, and are not apt to teach, — 
That they the talents trusted to their care, 
Can ne'er improve alone by dreams and prayer, — 
That they must toil, with all their force and might, 
T' enlarge those talents and to use them right, 
And further show, that members of thy Church 
Should more perform, — should diligently search 
Thy Word, and all its sacred truths obey, — 
Should for each other and their pastors pray. 
If they would run thus in the Christian race, 
They 'd be refresh'd by streams of heavenly grace : 



18 THE PATENT HAT. 

That if they all would daily watch and pray, 
Sinners would turn and seek the heavenly way. 
For this, O Lord, I meekly ask thy aid, 
On which alone my humble hopes are stay'd. 
I ask not lofty style, Shaksperian flame, 
Unless 't will tend to good — I ask not fame. 
I 'd have a style, though not in great demand, 
So plain, that all who read may understand : 
But most of all I 'd have it fraught with sense, 
So they who read shall find a recompense. 
O ! guide my helm aright, and I shall sail 
O'er waters broad and deep, and cannot fail 
To reach the port : who can, when heavenly light- 
Directs his course and makes his pathway bright ? 
Thy fear, I hold in view, O righteous Lord ! 
While I relate the duties and reward 
Of those professing, from thy bounteous store, 
To feed thy flock, and lead them to the shore 
Of heavenly rest, beyond life's troublous stream ; 
The preacher's solemn charge begins my theme : — 
The Lord was pleased that man, by sin depraved, 
*By foolishness of preachiug should be saved ; 
But in his Word he nowhere has decreed, 
That men, of foolish preaching, stand in need. 
It is a solemn, fearful work, to talk, 
To plead, to act for God ; and yet to walk, 
To run, to soar, yet faint nor weary not, 
Shall be the faithful pastor's happy lot. 
Thrice, four times happy, is his lot indeed, 
Who, with due care, his Master's flock doth feed : 
f Glory and honor, peace, all that he could 
Desire, God gives to him that worketh good. 

** 1 Cor. i, 21. t Rom. ii, 10. 



THE PATENT HAT. 19 

Not worldly, but celestial honors large, 
That preacher gains who guides aright his charge : 
But he, for this, with deep and fervent prayer, 
Should labor, watch, and have an anxious care. 
The Eastern shepherds watch'd their flocks by night 
As well as day, and in it took delight. 
That none might stray, and wolves might none devour, 
They used all care and caution in their power. 
Shall shepherds, who Christ's flock attempt to keep, 
Be less engaged than those attending sheep ? 
Are they not duty-bound to watch and pray, 
Lest through neglect one soul shall go astray ? 
Yea, truly, they have stations high to fill, 
^Requiring heavenly wisdom, grace, and skill. 
Forth into pleasant pastures they must lead 
The sheep, and to the tender lambs take heed ; 
And wandering ones that through the deserts roam, 
They must search out, and gently lead them home ; 
And in the Church, which is Christ's sacred fold, 
Feed them with care,f as Peter thrice was told. 
And can they thus much time for leisure find? 
Much, to be sure, if they the tempter mind ; 
He says they should ; and Nick, you know 's no fool, — 
An idle preacher is the devil's tool. 
He's not so partial to an idle man, 
'T is true ; but first he '11 stop men, if he can, 
From doing good, and then, will, by degrees, 
Teach them to work for him : they learn with ease. 
What various ways he takes to gain his ends ! 
And 0, alas ! how oft success attends ! 

* Matt, x, 16, and Eph. iv, 29. 

f The verb 7rotfj,atvu, used in John xxi, 16, means not only 
to feed, but to have a watchful care over the flock. 



20 THE PATENT HAT. 

Some, deeply, he will plunge into the mire ; 

Others incite, for honors to aspire. 

The former, tempted, live in fear and doubt, 

And know not, half the time, what they 're about : 

The latter, self-conceited, puff'd with pride, 

Meek, lowly Christians scarcely can abide. 

He, who would in the ministry engage, 

Should ponder well that he will have to wage 

A heavenly war ; and he should be resign'd, 

That worldly honors all be left behind ; 

*And, should it be required amid the strife, 

To make a sacrifice of even life, 

It must be done : the veriest coward 's he, 

Who, when the danger comes, will start and flee : 

Especially, is he who leads the rest, 

Supposed of skill and courage both possess'd. 

A general who is not in tactics skill'd, 

Is not for that excused when men are kill'd 

Through his gross ignorance ; but he 's to blame, 

As if he purposely had done the same : 

For, when he took on him that high command, 

He knew they much expected at his hand ; 

And by that act, he publicly profess'd, 

That he, the skill and art of war, possess'd : 

His soldiers fearlessly all dangers faced, 

Because in him full confidence they placed. 

And will the preacher make apology, 

That he has never read theology, 

When he allows those in the Church to revel, 

To quarrel, fight, and act the very devil ? 

He cannot be excused : if he attempt 

To lead us in the narrow path, exempt 

9 John x, 11-13. 



THE PATENT HAT. 21 

From darkness must be his, else he 's not fit — 

The blind will lead the blind into the pit. 

His heart must be renew 'd by heavenly grace, 

And made a temple fit — a dwelling-place — 

In which the Holy Spirit will delight 

To dwell, and shed abroad his heavenly light. 

Then of that light, and not, in truth, till then, 

Can he bear witness unto other men ; 

Which he should do, as did the Baptist John, 

*Who saw the Spirit coming down upon 

His Master ; and whose heart was fill'd with love, 

And grace divine, which cometh from above. 

Each should, before he is ordain'd to preach, 

Consider well if he is apt to teach ; 

f For God has not bestow'd this gift on all ; 

And they to whom it is denied, no call 

From him have had, to what they cannot do : 

Some pray with power, and can exhort well too, 

At which they might accomplish much of good, — 

O what a pity but they only would ! 

But when they preach, me, O ye fates, detain ! 

If rain be needed, heaven, pour down the rain ! 

Jlcarus-like, on artificial wings, 

They strive to soar above all earthly things ; 

* John i, 32. f Rom. xii, 6-8. 

I Grecian fable informs us that Icarus was the son of 
Daedalus, a celebrated Athenian artist of antiquity ; that he 
and his father were cast into prison, on the island of Crete, 
and that through the skill of the latter they effected an 
escape in the following manner: — Finding some wax and 
feathers, Daedalus soon made for himself and son, each, a pair 
of wings, and, fastening them to their bodies, they flew up 
through an opening in the prison, and directed their course 
across the iEgean Sea. By exercising due caution, the father 



22 THE PATENT HAT. 

But soon, alas ! they get too near the sun, 

When feathers drop, and wax begins to run,— - 

They tremble, flutter, Heaven avert their doom ! 

Down, down they come, and find a watery tomb ! 

Then, O beware, you who would teach God's laws, 

Lest you should bring reproach upon the cause ! 

For is it not as foolish and absurd, 

*For men unskill'd to try to preach God's word, 

As for a poor, conceited, foppish fool, 

Unlearn'd in letters, to conduct a school ? 

And yet some blockheads will presume to show 

That they about the Scriptures nothing know : 

Trusting alone to talent, they before 

Their hearers, unprepared, will rise, and bore, 

And worry them, until they, for relief, 

Wish they had ne'er been born, or else born deaf. 

Strange, 't is indeed, some preachers cannot see 

That something 's wrong — a lack of energy 

Upon their part ; else they 've no gift at all 

To preach, and hence have never had a call ; 

For this can be relied upon as true, 

That God requires of none what they can't do. 

" O wad some pow'r the giftie gie us, 

To see oursels as others see us." 

reached the land in safety ; but Icarus, priding himself in his 
power of flight, soared so high that the heat of the sun melted 
the wax, with which the feathers were cemented, and, alas ! 
he fell, never to rise again. 

° The author is far from believing that uneducated persons 
are never called to preach ; but, if some whose preaching seems 
to produce no effect, and who put forth no efforts to become 
skillful in God's word, have ever received such a call, he very 
much doubts whether they have rightly obeyed, by doing all 
in their power for the salvation of souls. 



THE PATENT HAT. Zd 

If some, who 'd fain be preachers, only could 

Do this, they 'd go at once to chopping wood, 

Or something else at which they might succeed ; 

For in a mighty world of work, what need 

To fight against the light of nature, reason, 

And not to heed its dictates ? It is treason 

'Gainst nature's laws, as all may plainly see : 

Her works, in all things, show economy. 

Then, for vain glory, let none break her laws, 

And bring reproach, by preaching, on Christ's cause. 

But he, who has from God received a call, 

Who has a burning zeal, and has withal 

A gift for teaching others in the way 

Of life eternal, from God's volume, may 

Enter the field ; yea, he must not refuse, 

For God will judge him if he do not use 

* The talents he has trusted to his care, 

To the best purposes. O then with prayer 

Let him set out ; but first he must put on, 

Resolved to wear it till the victory's won, 

f The armor of his God, the set complete, 

With which he '11 be enabled to defeat 

The fiercest enemy ; and him 't will make 

Invincible : yea, hell itself can't shake 

His confidence in God while this he wears, 

Although the devil will set many snares. 

His loins girt up with everlasting truth, 

He stands in all the vigor of his youth, 

And, shielded with the breast-plate righteousness, 

All hellish foes he does with ease repress. 

That he may freely move with grace and ease, 

He binds his sandals on, of gospel peace. 

• Matt, xxv, 26-31. f E P h - ▼*> 13 " 18 - 



24 THE PATENT HAT. 

Above all else, on entering the field, 
He takes full faith in God, that powerful shield 
Which guards him round, securely, on all parts, 
And quenches all of Satan's fiery darts. 
Salvation's helmet, and the Spirit's sword, — 
Which represents, * we 're told, God's holy word, — 
He takes : thus arm'd, what 's there for him to fear ? 
He frightens devils with his watchword, prayer. 
And thus prepared, he 's ready for the work 
Of God, and in it he will nothing shirk. 
His sermons, preach'd with all the grace and ease 
Of Cicero or of Demosthenes, 

First fix the eye, the ear, the outward part, [heart, — ■ 
Through which, at last, with power they touch the 
With power divine, which cometh from above, 
And fills them full of joy, and peace, and love ; 
Thus would all sermons have a good effect, 
If first appropriate, all points correct ; 
And then deliver'cl in a manner clear, 
And plain, and not offensive to the ear. 
Some preachers better, vastly better, could 
Expound God's holy word if they just would : 
That is, if they themselves to learn would take 
More pains, and try, with all their power, to make 
Their sermons sound, and forcible, and plain. 
By this, one thing, at least, they 'd surely gain ; 
They thus would keep their hearers all awake, 
Without such horrid sounds as sure would break 
Their pipes, if they were not elastic. Some, [come." 
f With thund'ring peals preach you to " kingdom 

*Eph. vi, 17. 

f Let no one infer, from what here follows, that the author 
does not consider it the business of preachers earnestly to 
warn sinners of their dreadful danger — far be it from him to 



THE PATENT HAT. 25 

They yell as if they had a thousand tongues, 
"A throat of brass and adamantine lungs." 
Yea, they at times a war in earnest wage 
Against old Satan ; they will shout, and rage, 
As if by storm the world they meant to take, 
And every devil a true convert make. 
Their mode of fighting is with groans and prayer, 
To raise excitement, and their hearers scare. 
With wild distorted looks we hear them yell, 
Sinners, you 're on the very brink of hell, 
Yea, tottering there ! if you refuse our call 
You're lost forever — run, or you will fall! 
Some, at the call, and almost dead with fright, 
Without a thought betake themselves to flight, 
And in the church they from the devil hide, 
When, feeling safe, their fears will soon subside. 
With extra yells the preacher's throat is sore, 
And some, who promised they would sin no more, 
Forget their vows, yea, sin without a blush, 
And serve the devil with a perfect rush. 

entertain such an opinion. But surely a matter of such dread 
importance should not be acted upon rashly, but should be car- 
ried out in a considerate manner. If the Church be first 
aroused to action, and the heart of every member inspired 
with such a spirit of love as to make him ever ready to coun- 
sel, pray for, and encourage those who manifest a desire to 
flee from the wrath to come, then there is a chance for the 
poor wanderer, who is awakened to a sense of his lost condi- 
tion, to run safely in the straight and narrow path which 
leads from earth to heaven. But he who, being frightened 
from a sense of his lost condition, seeks refuge among a set 
of cold, formal churchmen, who not only refuse to lead him, 
but even to help him up when he falls, must indeed keep his 
eye of faith very intent upon the Day-Star, if he do not lose 
his way. 



26 THE PATENT HAT. 

Yet need we marvel at their turning back, 
' When they have none to guide them in the track 
That leads to heaven ? Can we expect that fright — 
Though it may turn their course — will lead them right ? 
All candid minds at once will answer, nay, 
They cannot safely run the heavenly way 
Without a guide to cheer them by his talk, 
And kindly lead them till they learn to walk. 
Others — so nice they almost fear to cheep — 
Will, in short meter, preach you fast asleep. 
This class of preachers cannot fail to please 
Those who in Zion wish to be at ease.* 
Nay, to their church, all ye who thus would live, 
Should go ; and by the Muses, I will give 
My word you '11 never get excited there, 
Nay, of your heads they will not hurt a hair. 
They preach or read, whichever they may do, 
Nothing that will apply, at all, to you ; 
Or if it should, their dull and soulless strain 
Will not, I'll warrant it, excite your brain. 
But you can sit and calculate, with ease, 
Your next year's plans, or anything you please. 
Another class there is — a medium, 
Between the yellers and the class that 's mum — 
Who neither rage like those we first did name, 
Nor yet their piece so unconcern'd declaim 
That it doth not a slight impression make, 
Enough, at least, some few to keep awake. 
They talk in earnest, knowing what they say 
Must all be answer'd for at judgment-day. 
They preach from Scripture, and its truths explain, 
So all who hear them may some knowledge gain. 

e Amos vi, 1. 



THE PATENT HAT. 27 

When they set out to run the Christian race, 

They started not upon a wild-goose chase ; 

And now that they may gain the glorious prize, 

They labor zealously with open eyes. 

They read, and pray, and study hard to know 

How they may best serve God while here below ; 

And how, with Scripture arguments, they can, 

With most success reform their fellow man. 

O ! if all preachers would consider this, 

How much 't would add to sublunary bliss ! 

He who God's highest glory has in view, 

One thing must not, another he must do, — 

Preach on no subject till he understands, 

But use all means God puts into his hands 

Wisdom to gain ; with skill and power t' impart 

The same to others ; to the sinner's heart 

To hurl the arrows of conviction, and 

With such resistless force none can withstand. 

He should, God's mercies, with such feeling show, 

That tears of gratitude will freely flow. 

From God himself man's power must come 't is true, 

Or else his preaching little good will do : 

'Tis also true, man has to act his part : 

Through power of eloquence is roused the heart. 

It is a means God did for man devise 

To win his fellows ; and shall he despise 

This heavenly gift ? Shall he its power abuse, 

Or to acquire it any means refuse ? 

* Moses, in this soul-stirring power, did lack, 

So he preach'd not, but stood at Aaron's back, 

And gave him words which he, with heavenly power, 

On the Egyptians and their king did shower. 

* Exod. iv, 10-17. 
2 



28 THE PATENT HAT. 

He who to heaven declares himself a guide, 

Should use all means God doth for him provide, — 

Learn how to speak, as well as what to say, 

To make men hear and understand the way. 

Will he be guiltless, who doth aught refuse 

To study, which he might to profit use ? 

What man is there who would attempt to bring 

A congregation forth to hear him sing, 

Till he had studied, carefully, each part, 

And master'd perfectly this heavenly art ? 

But do all preachers in this manner preach ? 

Have they acquired the art by which they teach ? 

Have they e'en read the rules of rhetoric ? 

If so, some have forgotten very quick. 

"A little learning is a dangerous thing ;" 

If mixed with pride, it leaves a pois'nous sting. 

Some who Ve obtain'd a smattering of Greek, 

Would fain persuade us they can scarcely speak 

In common style, unletter'd anthropoi, 

I fear, they say, my logon can't enjoy. 

Vain fools, you 're right, for your most learn'd pretense 

Disgusts your hearers and is void of sense. 

Some, when they wish to show you certain " pints," 

Will thrust a finger-end or knuckle-joints. 

You who such gestures loathe, we would advise 

To take a handkerchief and hide your eyes ; 

Not to go out, but stand it if you can ; 

Respect the place, at least, if not the man. 

In such a purgatory oft we get, 

Enough to make both saint and sinner fret, 

Though fretting 's not for such distress a balm, 

Some try it, others sleep and take it calm ; 

And when the preacher kills the tedious hour, 

Wake up refresh'd, while fretters all look sour. 



THE PATENT HAT. 29 

To hear a man explain a subject — what ! 
Can he explain it, when he knows it not ? 
Well, try to tell us what he does not know — 
Just hear him, will you ? for he'll clearly show 
To us his " pints," in order each gone through, 
As mention'd, none can help but get a view 
Of finger nails ; with which, to raise a thought, 
His bumps he rubs, as if by instinct taught. 
All, wondering, dreading, what is coming next, 
Astonish'd are, to find it suit the text, 
So much attention, now, his feelings rouse, 
For lo, he sees his hearers cease to drowse ! 
Behold him lay it down with open hand ; 
Another blow, I fear, will split the stand ! 
Alas it 's gone ! he aims his mighty fist, 
Ye fates oppose it or he'll sprain his wrist ! 
Such thoughts, for want of else, our minds do fill, 
During the sermon, though against the will. 
But hold, my muse, perhaps it is not right, 
Of earnest preaching thus to talk so light : 
Yet some, I know, will treat thee as a friend, 
For naming faults which they at once will mend. 
To such we say, take courage, and go on, 
And all your grievous faults will soon be gone. 
And take but half the pains Demosthenes, 
To speak correctly, did, and you with ease, — 
" With words succinct, yet full without a fault," — 
Will learn to speak, and stammer not, nor halt. 
Your voice so pitch'd, that all may plainly hear, 
Nor yet so loud that any need to fear 
That you will burst the buttons off your coat, 
Or, still more dreadful yet, will split your throat. 
Like as the gentle, balmy zephyrs blow, 
Softly, and sweetly from your lips will flow. 



30 THE PATENT HAT. 

With gestures unaffected, though by art 

Made perfect, you with beauty grace each part, — 

Like when a stone, into a pool we send, 

The waves from center to the shores extend. 

The congregation all, both old and young, 

Eager to catch the droppings of your tongue, 

Will sit with open eyes and ears erect, 

While you at them the words of life direct. 

Your well-selected words, bless'd from above, 

Will make their hearts o'erflow with heavenly love. 

A perfect minister, so far as art, 

Combined with gifts, and God's love in his heart, 

Can make him, is the noblest work of God ; 

Yea, with great power he sways the heavenly rod. 

His power is not tyrannical, but high ; 

His hearers choose his precepts willingly : 

They plainly see his learning, talents, sense, 

And courtesy, are far from mere pretense : 

For he is fill'd with such a heavenly zeal, 

All who his preaching hear, its power must feel. 

His words for joy will melt them into tears, 

Or when cast down, dispel all gloomy fears. 

But how can he this heavenly power attain, 

Without a mighty effort ? It is vain 

To look to God for wisdom, and despise 

The means he has ordain'd to make us wise. 

We thus were taught, by Christ himself, to pray : 

*Give us, O Lord, our daily bread this day ; 

But if our fields we do not plow and sow, 

God will not make the golden grain to grow. 

So with our minds ; unless we cultivate, 

And train them, even that which is innate, — 

* Matt, vi, 11. 



THE PATENT HAT. 31 

If aught of good there was — will be o'ergrown 

With weeds. In some the devil thick has strown 

The seeds of idleness ; in barren soil — 

Waste land — which would not pay him for his toil, 

To try to raise a crop, as well he knows : 

Of such, he 's ever ready to dispose. 

He tells them they in eloquence surpass 

A Patrick Henry, and should preach. Alas ! 

They 're very ready to believe it 's so, 

And right to preaching they at once will go. 

But he, the wily, treacherous old rake, 

Well knew what sort of preachers they would make : 

That they, with open eyes, though half asleep, 

Would suffer him to come and steal the sheep. 

Awake ! thou long enough in bed hast lain, 

Thou mental sluggard ! thou wilt rust thy brain 

With indolence. For shame — get up and brush 

The cobwebs from thy pate. The devil 'd blush 

To call thee his — he even fears to tempt, 

Lest thou wouldst join him. so thou goest exempt. 

Thou hast not done enough, to pay thy birth, 

Thou veriest nothing, that e'er walk'd the earth. 

That little which thou dost, he sees quite plain, 

Instead of injuring him, is his own gain. 

Curst be the days thou wert conceived and born, 

For thou hast never paid for half the corn, 

It takes to keep thee, and thou never wilt, 

While thou dost drowse in ignorance and guilt. 

Shame on thee ! if thou hast not lost all shame — 

Arouse at once and take a loftier aim. 

And if to be, thou ne'er 'before hast aim'd, 

A workman that needs not to be ashamed, 

A master workman, perfect in each part, 

Approved of God, and after his own heart : 



32 THE PATENT HAT. 

At once set out, nor stop till thou hast gain'd 

A store of knowledge, from good books obtain'd ; 

And by God's favor vastly much there is 

Acquirable, especially from His. 

Above all others preachers should be wise, 

As 't is their business others to advise. 

And they, of all that's good, should be a sample, 

As we are wont to follow their example. 

Although they must to visits oft attend, 

A moment's time they never ought to spend : 

At all times aim to make their visits short, 

Advise, reprove, encourage, or exhort ; 

And when they leave, must ne'er forget to pray, 

That God's best blessings to the family may, 

Through all their lives, in rich supplies, be given, 

And after death all meet again in heaven. 

No duty, knowingly, must preachers shun, 

But each must be appropriately done. 

Instant they must, both in and out of season, 

*Like Paul of old, with sinners learn to reason, 

Of judgment, righteousness, and temperance, 

And all things which Christ's kingdom would advance. 

Alike admonish beggar, prince, or king, 

And cause their guilty consciences to sting : 

Cause them, however harden'd, vain, or bold, 

To tremble, as a Felix did of old. 

Not like dim, sullen lamps, fast to the wall, 

But like the glorious sun that shines on all ; 

Within his bounds, they must with heavenly light, 

Dispel the fearful clouds of moral night. 

Awake, ye ministers of Christ, awake ! 

Renew your diligence, fresh courage take ; 

* Acts xxiv, 25. 



THE PATENT HAT. 33 

Mount Zion's walls, and send abroad the cry, 
The Bridegroom cometh, — lo, he now is nigh ! 
Do all within your power to make men hear 
The gospel, and believe; honor and fear 
Their Maker, and obey all his commands ; 
, To purify their hearts, and cleanse their hands : 
Think on your actions. O, consider well, 
The latter end of the poor infidel ! 
And all who do God's holy laws reject, 
Lest one should go to hell through your neglect ; 
And there in torments raise the fiendish cry, 
" could I curse this dreadful God, and die !" 
Then cursing loud, but finding it in vain, 
Take up this sad and lamentable strain : — 
"Infinite years in torment shall I spend, 
And never, never, never have an end ? 
O ! must I live in torturing despair, 
As many years as atoms in the air? — 
When these are spent, as many thousands more 
As grains of sand that crowd the ebbing shore ? — 
When these are done, as many yet behind 
As leaves of forest shaken with the wind ? — 
When these are gone, as many to ensue 
As stems of grass on hills and dales that grow ? — 
When these run out, as many on the march 
As starry lamps that gild the spangled arch ? — 
When these expire, as many millions more 
As moments in the millions past before ? — 
When all these doleful years are spent in pain, 
And multiplied by myriads again, 
Till numbers drown the thought ; could I suppose 
That then my wretched years were at a close, — 
This would afford some ease : but O ! I shiver, 
To think upon the dreadful sound — forever !" 



34 THE PATENT HAT. 



PART II. 



" Each has his conscience, each his reason, will, 

And understanding for himself to search, 

To choose, reject, believe, consider, act ; 

And God proclaim'd from heaven, and by an oath 

Confirm^ that each should answer for himself; 

And as his own peculiar work should be 

Done by his proper self, should live or die." — Polxok. 

O righteous Father, Lord of earth and skies, 
Eternal, Omnipresent, and All-wise ! 
My great Creator, my Redeemer, God, 
Help me in all I do thy name to laud. 
To thee, my grateful praises all belong; 

aid me still in my adventurous song, 
That I, in flowing numbers, may unlock 
The labyrinths in which thy wand'ring flock 

So long have roam'd amid the glimm'ring light 
Of bright'ning day, and dark, receding night ; 
That there may be a cleansing of the fold, 
The Church, of all pollution it doth hold ; 
And all its members may at once awake, 
And one united, powerful effort make, 
Thy cause and kingdom throughout all the land 
T' advance. O lend to me a helping hand ! 
Help me to give a clear, unclouded view, 
Concerning what each must, and must not do, 
Who doth profess to follow godliness, 
Without which they the power can ne'er possess. 

1 would portray the Church of Christ en masse, 
Not this, nor that, partic'lar branch or class ; 



THE PATENT HAT. 35 

For all who labor in the same great cause, 

Must do it surely by the self-same laws. 

Some disagree in name, or some small item, . 

About which they will war ad infinitum. 

Thus in contentions, envyings, and strife, 

They seem to lead aught but a heavenly life ; 

Yet each one thinks he 's in the good old way, 

And all the rest from it have gone astray. 

Some lean on Luther, as a man that knew 

The heavenly way ; so theirs, of course, is true. 

To others, Calvin's track looks very bright, 

So they conclude that it alone is right. 

Some think John Wesley, as a learned man, 

In his Church system hit upon the plan. 

Some say all these with forms the Bible trammel ; 

They read their duty through the specks of Campbell. 

Thus every sect has its partic'lar way 

To heaven, which seems as clear and bright as day. 

Dark, misty clouds, all others seem to vail ; 

In them no ship, they think, can safely sail. 

And is it strange that some so long decline 

To board a vessel of the heavenly line ; 

While they so many sailors, fierce for fight, 

Find in each crew, contending they are right ? 

'Tis not : each gallant tar is bound to admit, 

Their warlike vessels seem indeed scarce fit 

To take aboard a harmless, peaceful man, 

Among such fellows as are in their clan. 

And yet it is by no means safe or wise, 

Nor would we ever any one advise, — 

Because they always find at least a few 

Contentious men in every little crew, — ■ 

To shun a passage in a well-built boat, 

And on a log, o'er boist'rous waters float. 

8 2* 



36 THE PATENT HAT. 

" What is a Church ? ' Let truth and reason speak : 

They should reply,' — The faithful, pure, and meek, 

From Christian folds, the one selected race 

Of all professions, and of every place." 

All who advance Christ's cause are going right, 

If Quaker, Lutheran, or Campbellite, 

Or Calvinist, or any other name, 

No matter what : if they through Christ reclaim 

Sinners to God, they 're servants of the Lord, 

And will, if faithful, reap the great reward. 

Yet how harmonious, Christian-like 't would be, 

If on disputed points all could agree : 

And might they not, if all would lay aside 

Their prejudice, and all sectarian pride ? 

And search the Scriptures, carefully, with prayer, 

For truth, and truth aloue ? — for truth is there. 

How many Christians now, like John of old, 

Forbid their brethren — though the Saint was told 

*By Christ himself he should forbid them not — 

From doing good, because they have not taught 

The very text so hackney'd by their clan, 

And follow'd in the tracks of their great man. 

And O, how many Churchmen, by their talk, 

Their dealings, actions, and their daily walk, 

From non-professors cannot be discern'd ! [learn'd, 

To know they 're Christians, from the Church-books 

One thoughtless set of them — and O, alas ! 

A mighty host are number'd in this class — 

Will serve the Lord, so far as, without loss, 

They can proceed and shun the Christian's cross. 

But to the world they 've not a word to say 

About religion, and would shrink to pray 

* Mark ix, 39 ; Luke ix, 50. 



THE PATENT HAT. 37 

In. public, — yea, as if they were afraid 
The world should think that they had ever pray'd. 
In all their dealings some are full of tricks, 
On Sabbath days they '11 talk on politics ; 
Or that not suiting, they will range the tropics, 
Or to the poles they '11 go, to hunt up topics ; 
On aught they'll talk except on heavenly themes ; 
In place of which they '11 tell their silly dreams. 
They '11 talk about the weather, markets, or 
Discuss the subject of the foreign war. 
Perhaps they '11 tell you what a spec they made, 
By cheating some poor, honest friend in trade. 
To please those present, all their arts they '11 use, 
E'en should they have some absent ones t' abuse. 
If they themselves don't curse and swear outright, 
They sanction it, and seem to take delight 
To hear brave men their Maker's power defy : 
It looks so bold and manly to their eye, 
Especially, to see young heroes take 
All pains to learn to swear big oaths, and make 
Great men. Indeed, they try how near they can, 
Themselves, to swearing come, and act the man. 
And yet they hope — if they should ever die — 
God will receive them to himself on high : 
And 't is a grief, no doubt, to think their days, 
Must then be spent in singing songs of praise. 
Poor foolish souls, 't is folly thus to grieve, 
You need not fear that you will have to leave 
The company of such as curse and swear ; 
So pray, cheer up, and don't for this despair : 
But answer me, Do you perform the part, 
Of those professing to be pure in *heart? 

° Matt, v, 8 ; Heb. xii, 14. 



38 THE PATENT HAT. 

If not, — Have you a hope in heaven to save 

Your souls ? " What are your hopes beyond the grave V 

When you in ^judgment shall be called to give 

A strict account for how you act and live, 

Is it, I ask, your honest, firm belief, 

You can obey " with joy, and not with grief V 

Can you perform your duty as you should, 

f Yet pray and labor not, for others' good ? 

Nay, would you not, if you were in possession 

Of true religion, honor your profession ? 

How can poor mortals hope in heaven reward, 

Who do on earth refuse to own the Lord ? 

Yet some there are who trust 't will all be right, 

And they from earth to heaven will go, in spite 

Of what the Lord has said, so often named, 

Of him who owns me not, I '11 be ashamed, 

Before my Father : they can never see 

His face in peace who won't acknowledge me. 

Some, — like unruly children when they find 

The rod is coming, cry, and say they '11 mind, — 

Will not the Saviour own until they think 

Their end is near, and they are on the brink 

Of dread eternity, but then, through force, 

They promise God that they will change their course. 

And some, 't is true, while God prolongs their days, 

Do serve him faithfully with prayer and praise. 

But many, e'en till death, O, sad to tell ! 

Won't give up all for Christ, lest they get well : 

They will not freely give him all their heart, 

For, should they live, they want at least a part 

To give the devil, and they take this plan 

To cheat their Maker out of all they can. 

9 Matt, xii, 36. | 1 Tim. ii, 1, 



THE PATENT HAT. 39 

The Bible says that we must love each other, 

And can we treat a sister or a brother 

In any other way in that we would 

Have them treat us, and love them as we should ? 

Do we in all things mind the Golden Rule, 

And never act the tyrant, or the fool ? 

If we were wise, and would consider this, 

'T would add to ours as well as others' bliss. 

But some proud Churchmen, like the Pharisee, 

Thank God they are the aristocracy — 

That they so far surpass the ignoble herd, 

In knowledge of God's ways and Holy Word, 

That they should slight, at least, if not despise, 

Their ill-clad brethren who are so unwise. 

So this high-minded class scarce deign to speak 

To their poor brethren who are lowly, meek. 

And since we Ve named Church aristocracy, 

To class A, No. 1, just step with me : 

Upon the Rev. Doctor you descry 

Some costly ornaments, which we '11 pass by ; 

Our object is to observe those coming in, 

This once, God will not mark it down a sin ; 

Since we have come, alone, to see a sample, 

Of such as should instruct us by example, 

How we in church, with manners well refin'd, 

Should serve our Maker with our strength and mind. 

See that fine broadcloth of the latest style, 

How consequential it moves up the aisle, 

And spreads itself in a fine cushion'd pew, 

That none dare touch except the favor'd few. 

But sure 't is right, they 'd look well on a level, 

With that odd seamstress, or this lab'ring devil. 

In this progressive age 't is right and wise, 

Of God's own house to make a merchandise. 



40 THE PATENT HAT. 

If we, the better class, in pews can't rest, 

And be secure from those so meanly dress'd, 

Farewell to Church — we'll stay where we can be, 

Beyond the reach of such society. 

A pretty pass, indeed, 't would bring us to, 

To place us down with them in the same pew. 

And soon this working class, by their demands, 

Would, smiling, offer us their hard brown hands. 

Yea, by the powers, we'll have the upper seats, 

And those who toil in workshops, fields, and streets, 

Shall not, with arrogance, presume to take 

Our hands, and thus our friendship hope to make. 

And when to heaven — wha-wha-wha-what — why then 

The Lord will put us in a sep'rate pen 

Because we're better sheep, both fat and full, 

With neither burs nor thistles in our wool. 

Some, who profess to lead a Christian life, 

Are never free from family jars and strife. 

Although at church they seem so very meek, 

At home a pleasant word they never speak, 

Unless a stranger happens there, and then 

They 're dreadful nice ; but when he 's gone again, 

They soon forget 't is pleasant to be clever, 

And go again to fighting worse than ever. 

Or if they do not, cat-like, scratch and bite, 

They fret and scold from early morn till night, 

Which sure is worse ; a cat-fight would be fun 

Compared with this, for then, as soon as done, 

They 'd have a respite, and could sit and pur, 

And kindly smooth each other's tangled fur. 

But friendship true is not their element, 

For when, by crabbed words, their venom 's spent, 

They are not friendly, — nay, they have no bumps 

Of friendship, — but they take the devilish dumps. 




HOME, SWEET HOME. 



THE PATENT HAT. 43 

Now just observe them how they move around ; 

Their gate is down, you do not hear a sound ; 

But mark, their dam is filling, with surprise, 

You may get thunderstruck, if you 're not wise. 

How pleasant, Christian-like, for husband, wife, 

And children, all to live in constant strife ; 

It causes them to look and feel so well, 

Yea, makes their home a perfect little hell. 

O husband, speak, how stands the case with you ? 

*Unto your wife are you in all things true ? 

Do you with anxious care her wants relieve, 

And strive her gentle spirit ne'er to grieve ? 

If not, you have a mean, ungenerous soul, 

And ought to roost forever on a pole. 

\ Likewise, O wife, do you your head obey, 

As good old Sara ? What have you to say ? 

Do you, at all times, strive with willing heart, 

In life's great voyage to act well your part ? 

Do you encourage every way you can, 

And urge your husband on to act the man ? 

And are you firm, though gentle, good, and kind, 

In training up the little ones to mind ? 

^Children, do you observe the Lord's commands ? 

Have you been taught what he from you demands ? 

That if you live as he has told you to, 

Through all your life it shall go well with you ? 

Yea, after death, will live again, and be 

Happy in heaven through all eternity ? 

Would you live thus ? then bear this truth in mind : 

To every one you must be good and kind ; 

Must always quickly, willingly, obey 

Your Pa and Ma in every thing they say. 

Eph. v, 25. f 1 Pet. iii, I. J Exod, xx, 12 ; Col, iii, 20. 



44 THE PATENT HAT. 

Must never tease, nor quarrel with your brother, 
Nor with your sister, but must love each other. 
Servants, one thing we have of you to ask, 
About how you perform your daily task : 
Say, do you strive to please by honest work ? 
And from your duty never try to shirk? 
Do you your master's interest have in view ? 
And always serve him faithfully and true ? 
*Such service is well pleasing to the Lord, 
And will not miss in heaven of great reward. 
Then with your lot, O ! strive to be content, 
Perform your duty, be obedient, 
And serve with fear and singleness of heart, 
And pray to God to help you act your part. 
Should you do wrong, because you plainly see 
Your master treats you very wrongfully ? 
Nay, you should suffer much for conscience' sake ; 
'T is better than God's holy laws to break. 
Masters, with you how doth the matter stand ? 
Do you your servants treat with liberal hand ? 
And always give them what is equal, just?f 
Do not the Holy Scriptures say you must ? 
Do you instruct them, from God's holy laws, 
"Why they should serve you, and explain the cause 
Will you — because you can advantage take — 
. To your poor slaves their lives a burden make ? 
Your Heavenly Master doth show no respect 
'Twixt you and them, — dear sirs, on this reflect. 
In heathenish darkness, then, why let them dwell ? 
Do you intend to take them down to hell ? 
O think on this ! If you should take them there, 
Will they not torture you in fell despair ? — 

* 1 Pet. ii, 18. f Col. iv, 1. 



THE PATENT HAT. 45 

And ye who place slave-masters on a level 

With thieves and murderers, yea, with the devil, 

Pray, how much better do you act and live ? 

Stand up and answer; we would have you give 

A strict detail of your untarnish'd acts ; 

Come now, be honest, we would know the facts. 

Do you, in all things, treat your servants right, 

For some of you have servants black or white, 

Who toil for you, and work as you command, 

And don't you pay them with a sparing hand ? 

Don't you from them, all that you dare, exact, 

And wish you could a little more detract ? 

And you, who can't, through poverty, afford, 

O'er fellow mortals thus to act the lord, 

Do you not show us that your wills are good 

To act the tyrant, if you only could ? 

Is that your mercy to that poor dumb brute, 

Which did not step, just right, your mind to suit? 

I see you have not beat him quite to death, 

But then you only stopp'd for want of breath. 

If you were righteous, would you not, at least, 

*Have some regard for even that poor beast ? 

But lo ! 'mid storms, your stock we may behold 

Half-starved for food, and perishing with cold. 

If you with mercy all your servants used, 

Then you might talk of those who theirs abused. 

fPick others' eyes, when you have clean'd your own, 

And he who 's guiltless, let him cast a stone. 

To what shall we compare the Christian Church ? 

'T is like a well-built vessel sent in search 

Of shipwreck'd sailors, who, upon the seas, 

On spars and fragments float, toss'd by the breeze ; 

* Prov. xii, 10. f Matt, vii, 3. 



4:6 THE PATENT HAT. 

Or on the slipp'ry rocks, their lives to save, 

Are standing ; while the angry, dashing wave, 

Rolls near, and nearer, with its threat'ning sweep, 

Another swell may plunge them in the deep ! 

The captain views them with his telescope, 

And tells his sailors that there yet is hope, 

If each poor wretch, who 's floating o'er the wave, 

Will raise a signal, that they all may save. 

Now fire your guns, says he, and let them know 

We 're here, — and every tar to work must go. 

Let down your boats, and ply with force the oars, 

For on yon frightful rocks behold are scores 

In awful danger ! Some, unconscious, sleep — 

To work, or they '11 be swallow'd by the deep. 

Pilots, look out for rocks, — keep in the bow ; 

Instruct young tars, who yet have ne'er learn'd how, 

To row with force, by pulling all together, 

To keep their posts, and brave all kinds of weather. 

By rowing thus the boat will safely ride, 

And stem the torrent of the rolling tide. 

With those who will not work, stop not to trifle ; 

Just heave them out, though when in brine they stifle, 

If they will promise to take hold and row, 

Try them again ; if not, then let them go : 

For they will always stand in some one's way, 

Who otherwise all orders would obey. 

And now some pilots, where the sufferers float, 

Must steer ; others with caution guide their boat 

Around the rocks where angry billows roar 

In fury, threat'ning that they '11 turn them o'er. 

Now, wide awake ! the pilot must keep cool, 

For if he gets to thundering like a fool, 

"Jump in, or you will instantly be drowned," 

The frightened wretches, with a thoughtless bound, 



THE PATENT HAT. 47 

Will spring to reach the boat, and on its side 

Will pull and struggle, till the flowing tide 

Will rock them o'er, in wild commotion toss'd, 

Some, doubtless, will, and many may be lost. 

Instead of this the boat, with caution steer'd, 

The pilot manages as if he fear'd 

No dangers ; and he calmly sails within 

Their reach, and kindly says, " My friends, step in," 

And with all firmness takes them by the hand, 

Supporting such as are too weak to stand. 

Each at his post, they make a prosp'rous trip, 

And safely place their brothers in the ship. 

So with the Church, Ship Zion, of our God, 

Each member must assist to stem the flood 

Of opposition, and poor sinners save, 

Or thousands will be swept into the grave, 

Who 're standing on the slipp'ry rocks of vice, 

Or sleeping, carelessly, on floating ice. 

Christ is the Captain of the noble ship ; 

His preachers are the pilots to equip, 

And guide their charges, and in all things right, 

Instruct each one to work with force and might. 

No member, ignorant, should idly stand, 

But labor, actively, with skillful hand. 

First, then, each member of the Christian Church, 

God's holy word should diligently search : 

In it the way to heaven, to some so dark, 

Is traced so plainly all may see the mark. 

*A holy life, a heart set free from sin, 

Is the grand point, e'en fools can't err therein. 

He, who lives thus, has full assurance given 

That he, if faithful, will at last gain heaven. 

* Heb. xii, 14. 



48 THE PATENT HAT. 

All Bible truths he strives to know aright, 

To do his duty is his soul's delight. 

* All Scripture is by inspiration given, 

To profit us, and point us on to heaven : 

And will, if we are daily wont to read, 

To study well, and when explain'd to heed 

Its sacred teachings ; but if we contemn 

The Sacred Volume, it will us condemn. 

We, by the law establish'd in our land, 

From him, or her, who violates, demand 

A retribution, though in ignorance 

'Twas done; because there is for all a chance 

To know what 's wrong, as well as what is right ; 

And if a man in bacchanalian fight, 

Dethroned of reason, do a horrid deed, 

He has to suffer : he cannot be freed, 

Because he lost his reason in the revel, 

Or, rather, chose to give it to the devil. 

And does the Bible not belong to each 

In Christian lands ? It is within their reach ; 

And when they violate its holy laws, f 

Will they attempt to clear themselves, because 

They never read them ? It will be in vain, 

And they will have no reasons to complain, 

If for their ignorance they 're sent to dwell, 

With fools and hypocrites, the damn'd in hell. 

The devil, to intoxicate men's minds, 

Has many drinks, — he oft invents new kinds, 

With which he doth corrupt the hearts of youth, 

And turn their minds away from Bible truth. 

He 's full of tricks, set thick with hellish trappings, 

He drives some people mad with " spirit rappings ;" 

* 2 Tim. iii, 16. f ^<> m - «> 12 - 



THE PATENT HAT. 49 

Others, lie hires to set up rapping schools, 

Which he supplies with various kinds of fools. 

How strange it is, some won't believe God's word, 

But some new track, no matter how absurd, 

Which feigns to point to heaven some other way, 

They '11 follow, 'mid the blaze of gospel day. 

E'en some professors in the Christian Church 

Will be deceived, and get left in the lurch ; 

Although the Bible warns them to beware 

*Of wolves that dress in wool, instead of hair. 

It tells us how deceivers we may know, — 

To judge the tree by fruits that on it grow. 

Can Christians who the Bible have believed, 

By vain delusions truly be deceived ? 

They may, if any duty they neglect ; 

For all are tempted, even God's elect. 

Yet he who hath espoused the Christian cause, 

Who strives to understand, aright, God's laws, 

Who doth for this the Bible daily read, 

Its myst'ries meditate, its precepts heed, 

Hath a foundation laid that 's firm and sure ; 

From all attacks such only are secure. 

As oft as opportunities afford, 

All persons ought to hear the spoken word ; 

And that the sermon may have good effect, 

Each Christian should to heaven his prayer direct : 

Pray that God's power the spoken word attend, 

And that his Spirit in each heart descend. 

Some toil the six days through from morn till night, 

But when the Lord's-day comes they 're out of plight : 

They've got a cold, a fever, pain, or phthisic, 

Or something else : " I '11 have to take some physic — 

Matt, vii, 15. 



50 THE PATENT HAT. 

dear ! I'm too unwell for church to-day," 

And so at home a-lounging round they stay. 

But soon as Monday comes they don't complain, 

They're well enough to buy, sell, and get gain. 

Among church-goers, sad it is to state, 

Some never fail to come to church too late — 

They're ever punctual, you will always find, 

In everything they 're just so far behind. 

It would be strange if they the church should reach 

Before the pastor had commenced to preach : 

And sure 'tis strange how they so well contrive, 

A little after, always to arrive. 

Behold them coming — what a mighty bustle ! 

And now just notice how their satins rustle — ■ 

Slam goes the door, and up the aisle they go, 

As if to say, Pm here, I'd have you know. 

And thus they treat, with open disrespect, 

God's house and people, through their gross neglect. 

Alas, how few who go to Church aright ! 

Some go, because it is esteemed polite ; 

Others, no doubt, occasionally go, 

A bonnet, hat, or some new dress to show. 

And some could daily go, and ne 'er get tired, 

Because they think their beauty there admired. 

Some go to see as well as to be seen, 

And, monkey-like, sit gaping round between 

The bonnets, whiskers, right into your face, 

A perfect copy of baboon grimace. 

The first of these, as soon as preaching 's o'er, 

Will take a station at, or near, the door ; 

And stare, and make remarks, against all rules 

Of decency. 'Tis well, ye hapless fools, 

That nature gave to you thick, porous skulls, 

Else, naught within, the air would crush your hulls. 



THE PATENT HAT. 51 

Others, who preaching like, so well, to hear — - 

Most desperate fond are they — will once a year, 

Yea, even twice, perhaps, to chnrch get out : 

It does us good, say they, to stir about 

On Sundays, when it does n't rain, and then 

It 's right to go : when shall we go again ? 

Some go, as poets sometimes spin a rhyme, 

For nothing, save to while away dull time. 

But they who go to hear that they may learn, 

The ways of truth, and clearly to discern 

Between what's right and what is wrong, and bear 

Some part in worshiping, with praise or prayer, 

Either unuttered, or both clear and loud — 

Both if in faith are heard alike by God — 

Go, not alone from duty, but delight, 

To worship God, — none others go aright. 

They go to church, to learn, and do their duty, 

To worship God in spirit — in the beauty 

Of holiness — and they, with songs of praise, 

Rejoice, and run their course in wisdom's ways. 

Follow your pastor, as he follows Christ, 

And you from duty will not be enticed ; 

That is, if he walks humbly in the sight 

Of God, and serves him with his power and might. 

And that he be a perfect man indeed, 

For nothing you can do, ne'er let him need. 

Stay up his hands, else, when his strength shall fail, 

The enemy will rally and prevail. 

Unto your preacher you should freely give, 

*For thus it was ordained that he should live. 

Yet some, at least their actions plainly say, 

Think men for preaching should receive no pay. 

*lCor. ix, 14; Gal. vi, 6. 



52 THE PATENT HAT. 

Preachers, they think, by faith, should live on air, 

Or as most poets do, on scanty fare. 

If you their pocket-feelings try to move 

To aid the preacher, they at once will prove, — 

At least to prove it they seem fully bent, 

And always use their fav'rite argument : 

*" ' Freely ye have received, so freely give,' 

Trust in the Lord and you shall surely live, — 

It is not right to give the preacher aid, 

And pay him as if preaching was a trade." 

In this, with them, we will not disagree, 

That Gospel tidings always should be free. 

But should we not to preachers freely give ? 

For those who preach the Gospel by it live. 

Some scarcely get a living, it is true',""' 

Yet such do not receive the Gospel's due. 

The preacher does not like to beg and plead, 

Though he, for means, may often stand in need. 

Thus, of much power the man of God is shorn. 

The ox that treads is not allowed his corn. 

f " The laborer is worthy of his hire," 

The Lord hath said; but they make him a liar; — 

For, says a brother, clinging to his purse, 

Money would make of preachers fops ; 't would curse 

Instead of doing good: — now let us see 

About what their expenses ought to be. 

And so with slate and pencil he will count; — 

So much for table ; but half that amount, 

Or less, if they do right will all defray ; 

For half their eating they should get away 

While visiting, and that without a cent 

To pay, — they surely ought to be content. 

» Matt, x, 8. f Luke x, 7. 



THE PATENT HAT. 53 

And as they do not work, one suit a year 
Should last, and that should not be very dear. 
That preachers should not live extravagant, 
So far you 've reasoned right we freely grant. 
If they 're supplied with common, wholesome fare, 
With clothing good, and suitable to wear, 
So far as that 's concern'd they can't complain ; 
Or if they do, they 're surely getting vain. 
But then, they 're not from worldly matters freed, 
So far as not to think of things they heed ; 
Especially if they 've a bosom-friend, 
And little ones who all on them depend. 
What must their feelings be when home they go 
With some kind brother, who, his love to show, 
Insists that they shall eat, drink, and be merry; 
And then his wife 's so kind, yes, she is very 
Attentive ; and about much serving she 
Is cumbered — yea, all goodness seems to be. 
All things for earthly comfort here abound ; 
They see them, in profusion, spread around. 
When they, we ask, to such a place repair, 
Will it not raise within their breasts a care 
For those dear loved ones at their scanty home ? 
Yea, there, without control, their thoughts will roam. 
"How can our labors be appreciated," 
Say they, " and yet our living meanly rated ?" 
And should we spend for them our years of strength, 
And live, yea die, in poverty at length ? 
For won't our wives and children then be hurl'd, 
By them, upon the cold, unfeeling world V 
Thus thoughts, unbidden, often fill the breast 
Of many a preacher ; and he feels oppress'd. 
Should they, you ask, their neighbor's riches covet, 
When they his plenty see, because they love it ? 
3 



54 THE PATENT HAT. 

Nay, verily ; — if they do covet wealth, 

The devil soon will get their hearts by stealth. 

But they are men, therefore it cannot be, 

That they from worldly thoughts are always free. 

And cannot preachers worldly comforts use 

As well as you, who them a mite refuse ? 

Have they not equal chance, with you or me, 

Objects of charity to know and see ? 

And should they not sufficient means receive, 

Of us, that they the poor may help relieve? 

No! they should be content — you still will plead— 

With food and raiment, that is all they need. 

The Bible says they should, and it declares 

That money leads us into many snares. 

Well, if it does, have we not cause to doubt, 

Unless you change your course, you'll ne'er get out ? 

*If you for wealth are toiling night and day, 

And building barns to store your goods away, 

Refusing freely to communicate, 

Will you not rue it when it is too late ? 

Of those to whom abundance has been given, 

Much is required, if they would dwell in heaven : 

f'Tis hard indeed, the Bible doth declare, 

For men possessing w r ealth to enter there. 

How shall the man who hath, with sparing hand, 

JInto God's treasury cast, in judgment stand ? 

Will he stand guiltless in the judge's sight, 

Approved like her who once cast in her mite ? 

Let each inquire, who hopes in heaven reward : 

Have I return'd my portion to the Lord ? 

Have I assisted, every way I could, 

God's servants, who are labr'ing for our good ? 

• Luke Xii, 15-20. f Matt, xix, 23. \ Mark xii, 41-44. 



THE PATENT HAT. 55 

For filthy lucre have I not been greedy, 

And turned my back upon the poor and needy ? 

If, on examination, you shall find 

You have in charity come far behind, 

! then at once reform, for it may be, 

This night thy soul shall be required of thee. 

Not only all your preacher's wants supply, 

And for him raise to heaven your earnest cry 

That he may be a copy of the Lord, 

And save his charge, and reap the great reward ; 

But none must be forgetful of a brother — 

No, you must pray for, aid, and love each other. 

Your gifts must ne'er be given grudgingly, 

For they 're as nothing without charity. 

Though all your goods you on the poor bestow, 

And give your body to be burned, you know 

It hath been said,* 't is all of no avail, 

If in the act of charity you fail. 

No one too much for self alone should care, 

But each one others' burdens learn to bear : 

And thus the world will know that from above 

You've learned, and say : See how these Christians love. 

Before men thus your light you '11 cause to shine 

As you 're required to do, by law divine : 

And they will see your good works hid like leaven, 

And glorify your Father who 's in heaven. 

° 1 Oor. xiii, 3. 



PART III. 



Reflect on this : Self-culture makes the man ; 
And he who will be great, and do good, can ; 
But he who won't consider well, and mend 
His crooked ways, — remorse will be his end. 



A SHORT PRELUDE TO PART III. 



In the preceding Parts the author pointed out some 
of the inconsiderate actions which he has himself wit- 
nessed among the clergy and churchmen, and also 
showed the necessity of a more holy and active life by 
reference to the divine requirements. In this Part he 
has substantiated his assertion that self-culture makes 
the man, by facts derived from history, which show that 
the learned, the considerate, and the zealous, have lived 
to far better purpose in the world than such as have, on 
account of fanatical scruples, or for want of energy to 
acquire an education, spent their lives in a kind of holy 
indolence. From the nature of the subject, this Part 
could not well be put in verse, as a number of historical 
quotations are given, and these, of course, could not be 
rhymed verbatim : 

And so from stern necessit}', 
He had to prose Part No. III. 

After noticing the condition of the principal nations 
at the time of the Redeemer's advent, and some things 
connected with that glorious epoch, the reader will be 
whirled along down the stream of time, till he finds him- 



DU THE PATENT HAT. 

self again at home. In this trip he will observe on the 
one hand, that sanctified learning produces virtue, hap- 
piness, and religion ; and on the other, that willful igno- 
rance brings forth and cherishes vice, misery, and idola- 
try. He will be amused now and then by an anecdote 
or allegory, calculated to illustrate facts and enforce 
truths. Among the favorers of learning and religion 
seen in this journey, he will behold the good old Paul, 
the renowned Origen, Cyril, Boniface, Charlemagne, 
Dambrowska, duchess of Poland, Anne, duchess of 
Russia, Gerbert, Roger Bacon, John Wiclif, John 
Huss, Christopher Columbus, Martin Luther, John Cal- 
vin, Elizabeth Edmonds, Queen Elizabeth, Galileo, Sir 
Isaac Newton, William Penn, John Wesley, George 
Whitefield, and many others. On the other hand he 
will observe among the fanatics who rejected learn- 
ing, the Egyptian Antony, Dionysius the feigned Areo- 
pagite, Theophylact, Storch, Miinzer, Grebel and others 
of their school. After passing through this journey of 
more than eighteen hundred years in extent, and then 
taking a view of some things as they now are, the reader 
is called upon to stop and consider. 

E'en so, kind reader, let it be, 
When you have read Part No. HI. 



THE PATENT HAT. 61 



PART III. 



CHAPTER I. 



Wisdom divine ! who tells the price 
Of wisdom's costly merchandise ? 
Wisdom to silver we prefer, 
And gold is dross compared to her. 

To purest joys she all invites, — 

Chaste, holy, spiritual delights ; 

Her ways are ways of pleasantness, 

And all her flowery paths are peace. — Wesley. 

At the time our blessed Saviour made his ap- 
pearance in the world, the learning arid religion 
of the people were grossly corrupt. The litera- 
ture of the Greeks and Romans, it is true, had 
attained a very elevated position ; and their sa- 
cred rites and ceremonies were, by many, zeal- 
ously observed. Yet there was nothing real, 
either in their literature or religion; for they 
were both established on their faith in imaginary 
gods, of which the Greeks alone had no less than 
thirty thousand. The adoration which these 
idolatrous people paid to some of their superior 
gods, whom they fancied presided over the more 
important affairs of life, and granted to them 



62 THE PATENT HAT. 

the chief blessings which they enjoyed, ought to 
put to blush the more enlightened nations of the 
present age. 

The Jews, though they still professed to 
worship the God of their fathers according to 
the law and the prophets, had also become 
corrupt both in their faith and practice. 
Some of them, especially among the Sadducees, 
greatly prided themselves in their wisdom ; yet 
" they knew not the Scriptures, nor the power 
of God." Immediately previous to Christ's ad- 
vent, circumstances seemed to indicate that the 
favored time for the spread of truth had ar- 
rived ; for at this eventful period the nations of 
the earth were at peace, Rome having made her- 
self mistress of a great portion of the world. We 
find, too, that the opinion was then prevalent 
among the Jews that the promise of the Messiah 
would shortly be fulfilled. Most of them, how- 
ever, were expecting him to come in all the 
worldly pomp and parade of a mighty conqueror, 
and thus declare himself their king. Yet such 
was not the manner in which the great Redeemer 
came forth to establish his kingdom. On the 
contrary, he came unto his own in all the humil- 
ity of a fellow-servant, desiring to teach them 
the way of salvation ; but the rulers, together 



THE PATENT HAT. 63 

with the chief priests and Pharisees, not only 
scorned his teachings, but were continually 
seeking means to take his life. Yes, they re- 
jected their Prince and Saviour because he 
came to them meek and lowly, instead of being 
clothed in the false dignity of a despotic tyrant. 
Behold him selecting heralds to proclaim his 
glorious gospel ! Does he choose alone from 
the learned in the higher circles of society ? By 
no means ; but, on the other hand, he calls some 
from very humble occupations to be his apos- 
tles. This circumstance has been used as an ar- 
gument against an educated ministry. But does 
the fact that some of the first proclaimers of the 
gospel had been fishermen, prove that ministers 
should now use no efforts to qualify themselves 
for the great work ? Let us examine this matter, 
and see if the great Author of Christianity taught 
that his followers, and especially his embassa- 
dors, are to regard literary attainments as use- 
less in spreading and defending the gospel 
truths, and therefore that acquiring them is a 
waste of time. If he did, then some are going 
contrary to his teachings. But, on the other hand, 
if he chose the learned to build up Churches, 
and to defend his cause after he should leave 
the world ; and if, since that time, the labours 



64: THE PATENT HAT. 

of such have been crowned with greater success 
in the advancement of Christianity than have 
those of the illiterate and fanatical, then should 
not every servant of Christ diligently labour to 
improve his mind and enlarge his capacities for 
doing good? The first question that presents 
itself for our consideration is, Why did not the 
Saviour choose the most learned in the land for 
apostles, instead of selecting those of very hum- 
ble pretensions? 

Hear his own testimony concerning the scribes 
and Pharisees, the former of whom were among 
the most learned of the Jews : " Ye have made 
the commandment of God of none effect by 
your tradition." Matt, xv, 6. Their learning 
was not genuine, but consisted to a great extent 
of traditionary teachings, and the speculations 
of heathen philosophers. 

We cannot suppose that such an education as 
this would qualify a man for the gospel ministry. 
Besides, the Saviour was now about establish- 
ing a new system of religion, and in order to do 
it the more successfully, he clothed with miracu- 
lous power those whom he first called to assist 
him in the work. Had he, in the place of select- 
ing unpretending men of sound judgment, as 
the writings of several of the apostles show 



THE PATENT HAT. 65 

that they were, chosen the vain boasters of wis- 
dom, it would have given broader grounds to 
the enemies of truth for denying the power and 
reality of his glorious religion. They would have 
said, By their own wisdom and craftiness they 
perform these wonderful works. But this could 
not be said of such men as the sons of Jonas or 
Zebedee, who left their nets, and followed the 
Saviour that they might learn how to become 
fishers of men. Those who contend, from the 
example of the apostles, that it is folly to think 
that by an education they will be better quali- 
fied for preaching successfully, ought to consider 
that the circumstances under which the first pro- 
claimed of the gospel were placed, were quite 
different from those now attending the ministry. 
The pure and simple doctrine of Christianity, as 
introduced by the Saviour, was so different from 
the corrupt teachings of the scribes and chief 
priests, that even its novelty must have had a 
tendency to attract the attention, and call forth the 
consideration of the people. This, however, was 
a small advantage in their favour, when com- 
pared with that of being the companions of their 
divine Master, of receiving their instructions di- 
rectly from him, and witnessing his manner of 
address. And who will say, that with all these 



66 THE PATENT HAT. 

advantages, particularly after a training of three 
years under the great Head of the Church, that 
the apostles were not better qualified, aside from 
the power of working miracles, for successful 
preaching than any one can now possibly be 
without putting forth his untiring energies in the 
use of the means which God has placed before 
him? And does any one suppose that the apos- 
tles did not diligently avail themselves of the 
privilege of learning from Christ the most effectual 
means of persuasion, and that they did not put 
forth their energies in practicing it ? But as Christ 
is not now upon earth to prepare his servants for 
the work of the ministry, there is great necessity 
that they should diligently study his "Word, in 
connection with human nature, that they may 
know how, Paul-like, to apply it. 

In short, their knowledge of these two things 
should, at least, be equal to that of those to 
whom they preach, otherwise they will not be 
likely to gain their confidence ; and it is impos- 
sible for any one to exert much influence over 
another whose confidence he has not. Conse- 
quently, it is incumbent upon the preacher to 
make his life one of earnest toil, studying to 
know how he may best serve his age, and putting 
forth all bis energies to do it. The novelty of 






THE PATENT HAT. 67 

preaching salvation through Christ has now 
passed away ; for most of the people of the nine- 
teenth century, living in Christian lands, have 
at least heard of the great plan of redemption. 
Thousands, however, listen from week to week 
to the gospel's inviting voice, and yet do not lay 
hold of the words of life with that living faith 
which can claim God's promises of salvation. 

O how important it is that preachers should 
use every means in their power to cause the un- 
wary to consider his condition, to arouse from 
his lethargy, and make his peace with God be- 
fore his doom, shall be eternally sealed ! They 
have not now, as had the early disciples of 
Christ, the power of performing miracles, to set 
the unconcerned to thinking, and to convince 
unbelievers that there is, indeed, a divine reality 
in the religion which they profess. Neither do 
they now possess the privilege of enjoying the 
company of the great Founder of their religion 
in person, of witnessing his manner of enforcing 
truth, nor of receiving their instructions from his 
lips. The Saviour instituted other means to be 
used by his servants in turning sinners from the 
power of darkness to the glorious light and lib- 
erty of the gospel, when he in person should no 
longer be with them. 



68 THE PATENT HAT. 

In the first place lie inspired men, who, by an 
intimate acquaintance with the events, were 
competent to the work, to write an account of 
his suffering life, shameful death, triumphant 
resurrection, and glorious ascension into heaven, 
where he now sits at the right hand of the 
Father, having made the way possible for all 
mankind to be saved. After the disciples had 
gone forth, and preached to the Gentiles as well 
as the Jews, and Churches had been established 
in various cities lying along the coasts of the 
Mediterranean, there arose dissensions between 
the Jewish and Gentile converts which threat- 
ened to give the enemies of Christianity cause 
to triumph over u a house divided against itself." 
To quell these disturbances, and to defend the 
Christian Church against the attacks of false 
teachers, a very learned man was divinely 
inspired to write epistles to several of the 
Churches, showing them wherein they erred 
from the Scriptures, and that in judging others 
they condemned themselves. Several others, 
also, wrote epistles to the Churches in general, 
in which they exhorted them to exercise pa- 
tience, humility, faith, and various other vir- 
tues, and to shun sinful practices and erroneous 
opinions. 



THE PATENT HAT. 69 

These epistles not only exercised a happy in- 
fluence over the Churches to which they were 
written, but they still continue as important 
aids to a proper understanding of the plan of 
salvation as revealed in the gospels. And per- 
haps no other portion of the Sacred "Writings has 
proved so beneficial to the Christian Church as 
the letters of Paul, who was, doubtless, the ripest 
scholar of his age. So we see that the labours 
of the learned of the first century were crowned 
with great success, and still beam forth with 
heavenly light, illuminating the path of virtue 
and holiness, which leads to the mansions of 
eternal rest. 

The Saviour also promised, before leaving 
the world, that he would afterward send the 
Comforter, who should abide with his followers 
forever, and guide them in the ways of all 
truth. 

O that men, and especially ministers of the 
gospel, would study, and strive to understand 
aright, God's holy laws, and in all their acts be 
guided by them ! By so doing, they would find 
that preachers are not authorized to expect that 
God will miraculously qualify them for the work, 
and suffer them idly to pass their time in ignor- 
ance ; but, on the other hand, that they are here 



*70 THB PATENT HAT. 

taught that it is their duty to prepare themselves, 
by diligent study, to labour with success. 

Hear Paul's advice to the young preacher 
who was under his instructions : — " Study," says 
he, "to show thyself approved unto God, a 
workman that needeth not to be ashamed, 
rightly dividing the word of truth." He tells 
him to avoid unlearned questions, and hold fast 
the form of sound words. And again, that all 
Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is 
profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correc- 
tion, for instruction in righteousness ; that the 
man of God may be perfect, thoroughly fur- 
nished unto all good works. And further, to 
continue in the things which he had learned and 
had been assured of, knowing of whom he had 
learned them ; and that from a child he had 
known the Holy Scriptures, which were able to 
make him wise unto salvation through faith 
which is in Jesus Christ. 

" Well," says one, " is not a familiarity with 
the Bible all the learning that Paul mentions as 
being profitable ? and is this not all that is neces- 
sary to qualify a man for the ministry ?" Truly, 
the Scriptures are the foundation of all useful 
learning, so that a knowledge of all the arts and 
sciences in the world, aside from these, would 



THE PATENT HAT. 11 

leave a man in total ignorance concerning the 
plan of salvation. Yet would not a knowledge 
of the languages in which they were written, and 
also of the manners and customs of the people 
who lived in those times, throw much light on 
many passages that would otherwise be some- 
what obscure ? And will not that preacher, who 
uses illustrations as freely as did the Saviour, 
and the apostles, whose sermons we have, find 
that every science which he has studied affords 
him excellent service ? But he who uses his 
learning simply to show people that he possesses 
it, shows them, indeed, more than he desires ; — 
he shows them that his mine is not very deep. 
To no class of persons is a store of general 
knowledge, together with due caution and fore- 
thought, so necessary as it is to preachers ; for, 
if they are zealous in the cause of their Master, 
they will find adversaries to contend with who 
will try every means in their power to overthrow 
their doctrine, and render their preaching of no 
effect. Should they not receive Christ's counsel 
to the twelve as equally applicable to them? 
" Behold," says he, " I send you forth as sheep 
in the midst of wolves : be ye therefore wise as 
serpents, and harmless as doves." " Preachers 
of the gospel," says an eminent theologian, "and 



72 THE PATENT HAT. 

especially those who are instruments, in God's 
hand, of many conversions, have need of much 
heavenly wisdom, that they may know how to 
watch over, guide, and advise those who are 
brought to a sense of their sin and danger. How 
many auspicious beginnings have been ruined 
by men's proceeding too hastily, endeavouring 
to make their own designs take place, and to 
have the honour of that success themselves 
which is due only to God ?" They should earn- 
estly seek to know, as did the Psalmist, how frail 
they are, and learn to rely on God for assistance 
in all their doings ; knowing that after they 
have done all in their power, they are dependent 
on him alone for success. Those who possess 
such, knowledge, though they be skilled in the 
whole circle of sciences besides, are not vain 
boasters, thinking of themselves more highly 
than they ought to think; but they are the 
weak things of the world which are to confound 
the mighty. Such was Paul, who made the 
mighty Felix tremble — mighty in authority, 
wealth, and ancestral fame. Such are the great 
ones of this world. Paul, although very learn- 
ed, having studied under Gamaliel, a doctor of 
the Jewish law, did not use his learning to gain 
applause of men, by making a vain show of it 



THE PATENT HAT. 73 

before them ; but he used it, and effectually too, 
in winning souls to Christ. " Unto the Jews," 
says he, " I became as a Jew, that I might gain 

the Jews." " To the weak became I as 

weak, that I might gain the weak : I am made 
all things to all men, that I might by all means 
save some." From this, we infer that he was 
not merely a student of the law, but also of 
human nature, and that preachers should ac- 
commodate themselves to the circumstances un- 
der which they are placed ; that to the learned 
they should deliver the words of wisdom, in 
soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, 
that they thus may gain the learned ; to the 
unlearned the simple words of truth, with such 
perspicuity, that even the most ignorant may 
understand that by so doing they may gain the 
unlearned. In short, that they should be ready 
and willing to be anything, or do anything — to 
make any sacrifice of ease, pleasure, or profit, for 
the sake of saving souls. 

Now are there not preachers who might ac- 
complish greater good in the world if they were 
better educated, and especially if they were bet- 
ter acquainted with the Scriptures, and the most 
effectual means of presenting the words of truth 
for the consideration of their hearers? And are 



74 THE PATENT HAT. 

there not some, too, who feel the necessity of & 
more extended education ; and yet, after consult- 
ing ease, or pecuniary outlay, consent to limp 
along without making the least effort to throw 
off the shackles of ignorance ? 

But is such a course justifiable ? If a preacher 
feels cramped by his small attainments in litera- 
ture, and believes that, by a thorough course of 
reading or study, he might enlarge his sphere of 
usefulness, is he not bound to make a sacrifice 
of ease or pleasure even to the last dollar's worth 
of property, in order to acquire it ? Let those to 
whom this will apply consider the matter, and 
if they still doubt whether learning is of much 
importance to the preacher in discharging the 
responsible duties of his office, let them examine 
the history of the past and answer this question: 
Which have accomplished the more good in the 
world, those who rejected learning as useless, or 
those who with the glory of God and the good 
of their fellow-men in view, have spent years in 
expanding their intellectual powers ? The Egyp- 
tian Antony, an illiterate monk of the fourth 
century, and Martin Luther, the learned reformer 
of the sixteenth, will afford a good illustration. 
The former condemned human learning as ob- 
noxious to religion, and taught that people should 



THE PATENT HAT. 75 

live secluded from society, and spend their time 
in meditation and prayer. He induced a consid- 
erable number of superstitious persons to forsake 
the active duties of life, which the all-wise Cre- 
ator has enjoined upon all his rational creatures, 
and to live in dens and caves, thus vainly pre- 
tending to worship God to acceptance by a life 
of idleness. Like some at the present time, they 
professed to receive communications from the 
world of spirits, and many of them closed their 
wretched lives in despair. The latter, one of the 
most learned men of his day, spent a long and 
useful life in enlightening the minds of his fel- 
low-men. As a professor in college, he did not 
content himself with teaching those sciences 
alone which he found laid down in his depart- 
ment, but lectured to the students on the words 
of life and truth. This had an astonishing effect 
in the University of Wittemberg, where he 
taught. "A crowd of students nocked thither 
from all parts of Germany to listen to this extra- 
ordinary man, whose instructions seemed to 
open a new era to religion and learning." 

The great truths which Luther promulgated 
in his eloquent lectures and sermons were 
strongly opposed by the enemies of a general 
diffusion of knowledge. 



76 THE PATENT HAT. 

But this opposition had a tendency to strength- 
en and build up the cause which it was designed 
to crush; for it called forth the unanswerable 
reasonings and arguments, both from, the lips 
and pen of the learned Doctor, which not only 
put to shame his adversaries, but scattered light 
and truth throughout the whole length of Europe. 

But, says one, the great reformation of the 
sixteenth century must not be attributed to the 
learning of Luther ; for it was the work of God. 
Yery well ; we are willing to admit it was the 
work of God : but does not God work by means ? 
And do we not find that he is best pleased to 
work by willing instruments ? — by such as are 
ready to put forth every exertion in their power 
to do good? Luther well knew that his en- 
deavors to enlighten the dark and benighted 
minds of his fellow-men, and bring them humbly 
to the foot of the cross for mercy, instead of 
seeking it by means of an indulgence from the 
pope, would not have their desired effect, unless 
prospered by the all-powerful hand of Jehovah. 

Few men, perhaps, ever exercised greater 
faith in the merits of Christ than did Luther. 
Yet, unlike Antony, and his school of believers, 
he did not reject the means which God had 
placed within his reach, whereby he might 



THE PATENT HAT. 77 

qualify himself for exercising a great influence 
for good over his fellow-men. And we will find 
that our most successful reformers and teachers 
have, to a man, labored zealously to cultivate 
their own minds, and thus improve the talents 
which God had given them. They were men 
who considered that they were placed in the 
world, not merely to "eat, drink, and be mer- 
ry," but to do all in their power for their own 
good, and for the welfare of their fellow-men. 
And they did not seek to do this with their eyes 
shut, but considered how they might labor most 
effectually. 



78 THE PATENT HAT. 



CHAPTEE H. 

While passion holds the helm, reason and honor 

Do suffer wreck ; but they sail safe, and clear, 

Who constantly by virtue's compass steer. — Davenport. 

The first proclaimers of the gospel, as we before 
stated, were endowed with miraculous power, to 
enable them to labor more successfully in spread- 
ing the Christian religion. But after this new 
system had become firmly established, and a 
sufficient number of learned teachers were raised 
up to labor in the Church, these extraordinary 
gifts were no longer bestowed upon them. 

Seminaries, for the instruction of those who 
were to become ministers of the gospel, were 
founded at a very early period by leading men 
in the Church. There was one erected at Ephe- 
sus by St. John, and another at Smyrna by Poly- 
carp; but the most renowned of all, perhaps, 
was the one at Alexandria, supposed to have 
been founded by St. Mark. The learned doctors 
who successively taught in this last-named insti- 
tution, among whom, according to the account 
of Eusebius, were St. Mark, Pantsenus, Clemens 



THE PATENT HAT. 79 

Alexandrinus, and Origen, rendered it very 
famous as a fountain of religious knowledge. 

Among the learned men, who rendered valu- 
able service to the Church in the first century 
by their teachings and writings, were Mark, 
Paul, Clemens, and Ignatius, and we might add 
Josephus, who, though not usually classed among 
the Christian writers, certainly rendered valuable 
service to that cause. We have no account 
of any illiterate persons of this century accom- 
plishing as much for the Church as those of the 
opposite class just mentioned, unless it were 
some of those who were instructed three years 
by the Saviour himself; and such, we surely 
cannot say, were ignorant men. 

Christianity received great aid in the second 
century from the conversion of several men of 
cultivated minds. Among these will long be 
remembered the excellent and devoted Justin 
Martyr, who so ably defended the Christian re- 
ligion, and bravely suffered death in its defense, 
as did also the venerable Polycarp. Irenasus, 
Bishop of Lyons, is also deserving of particular 
notice among those who aided Christianity by 
their learned labors. He was a disciple of Poly- 
carp, and sent by him to preach to the Gauls. He 
wrote five books against the doctrines of the 



80 THE PATENT HAT. 

opposers of the Christian religion, which placed 
so great an obstacle in their way, that this good 
man was also honored with the death of a mar- 
tyr. Some of the learned Christians of this cen- 
tury became contaminated by imbibing certain 
doctrines of the Oriental philosophy, which were 
detrimental to the truths of the Bible. Hence 
arose the unhappy controversy which has ever 
since been carried on in the Church : — " Is hu- 
man learning advantageous to the spread of the 
gospel, and the advancement of true religion?" 

There arose several sects, during the second 
century, who took the negative of this question, 
and put their sentiments into practice. Among 
these were the Ascetics, who taught that such 
as aspired to the highest glory and joys of re- 
ligion, must not only reject human learning, but 
also abstain from the social relations of life, and 
seek an intimate communion with God in soli- 
tary meditation. But hear the result of their 
" sublime meditations," by which they professed 
to raise the soul above all earthly pleasures, either 
social or sensual: — "Both men and women," 
says Dr. Mosheim, " imposed upon themselves the 
most severe tasks, the most austere discipline; 
all which, however, the fruit of pious intention, 
was, in the issue, extremely detrimental to Chris- 



THE PATENT HAT. 81 

tianity." Another sect, similar to this, was 
formed by one Montanus, a religious fanatic, 
who pretended that he was the paraclete, or Com- 
forter, whom the Saviour promised his disciples 
he would send them, to guide them into the way 
of truth and holiness. He had a strong aversion 
to all the noble employments of the mind, and 
declared that the arts and sciences ought all to 
be banished from the Church, as obstacles in the 
way of religion. The leading men in the Church 
were of opinion, however, that they could better 
dispense with him than with science and litera- 
ture, and accordingly he was excommunicated. 
His doctrine was spread to a considerable extent 
through the influence of the learned, though 
credulous Tertullian, who, having become in- 
censed by some affronts he had received from 
the Koman clergy, joined in with Montanus, and 
wrote a number of books in favor of his fanatical 
opinions. So we see that the doctrine of this 
extravagant opposer of learning owed its spread 
chiefly to the wrongly-directed labors of a 
learned, but credulous man. We do not say that 
these men did not mean well for the Church in 
opposing learning, which was, doubtless, greatly 
perverted by many of the clergy ; but every one 
must confess that they took a very blind course 



82 THE PATENT HAT. 

to remedy the evil — they acted inconsiderately. 
The question concerning the utility of human 
learning did, indeed, greatly perplex the Chris- 
tians of the third century. Yet we need not mar- 
vel at this ; for although they might have seen 
that the ignorant and unlearned were incompe- 
tent to defend their doctrine against the subtlety 
of infidels and heretics, who were very numerous 
at that time, yet, on the other hand, most of the 
learned teachers so mystified the truths of the 
Bible with the fanciful reasonings of the pagan 
philosophers that they rendered them of none 
effect. Among the learned men of this century, 
who particularly distinguished themselves for 
the zeal which they manifested in the advance- 
ment of the Christian religion, Origen of Alex- 
andria, Julius Africanus of Palestine, and Cyp- 
rian, Bishop of Carthage, are the most renowned. 
" If," says a Church historian, " we turn our 
view to the human means that contributed at 
this time to multiply the number of Christians 
and extend the limits of the Church, we shall 
find a great variety of causes uniting their in- 
fluence, and contributing jointly to this happy 
purpose. Among these must be reckoned the 
translations of the sacred writings into various 
languages, the zeal and labors of Origen in 



THE PATENT HAT. 83 

spreading abroad copies of them, and the dif- 
ferent works that were published by learned and 
pions men in defense of the gospel. We may 
add to this, that the acts of beneficence and 
liberality performed by the Christians, even 
toward persons whose religious principles they 
abhorred, had a great influence in attracting 
the esteem, and removing the prejudices of 
many who were thus prepared for examining 
with candor the Christian doctrine, and, conse- 
quently, for receiving its divine light." How 
inconsiderately do many Christians now act, in 
refusing to exercise beneficence and liberality 
toward those who differ from them in opinion. 

During the third century, literature began 
rapidly to decline ; and we find that the Church 
grew corrupt at the same rate, and most of the 
clergy became slothful and self-important. " In 
the early times," says Dr. Meander, " those who 
took upon them church offices in the communi- 
ties continued, in all probability, to exercise 
their former trades and occupations, supporting 
themselves and their families in the same man- 
ner as before. The communities, composed for 
the most part of poor members, were scarcely 
in a condition to provide for their presbyters 
and deacons, especially as they had from the 



84 THE PATENT HAT. 

first to meet so many other expenses in support- 
ing helpless widows, the poor, the sick, and 
the orphans But when the communi- 
ties grew larger, and the duties connected with 
the church offices became multiplied ; when, es- 
pecially, the office of teaching came to be con- 
fined chiefly to the presbyters ; when the calling 
of the spiritual class, if rightly discharged, re- 
quired all their time and activity, it was often 
no longer possible for them to provide at the 
same time for their own support; and besides, 
the wealthier communities were now in a condi- 
tion to maintain them." 

In this manner the ministers of the gospel 
continued to receive their support during the 
first and second centuries; that is, they la- 
bored with their own hands until the Christians 
had sufficiently increased in number and ability 
to provide for all their wants, which they then 
did by voluntary contributions. The Church 
also provided for the wants of the poor and 
destitute ; which, to the shame of most Christian 
denominations, it must be said, is now grossly 
neglected. They do not consider this matter as 
they should. 

Learning, as we said, began rapidly to de- 
cline in this century, and with it the zeal of the 



THE PATENT HAT. 85 

clergy. Instead of seeking after truth, they 
now turned their attention to getting gain, that 
they might consume it upon their lusts. They 
now imperiously laid claim to the property 
which had been donated to the Church, and 
heretofore used for benevolent purposes. 

Superstition, the darling child of ignorance, 
began, at this time, to figure largely in the 
walks of the faithful. The belief that those who 
entered into God's holy institution of matrimony 
were more subject to the influence of demons 
than those who abstained from the pleasures of 
married life, now obtained to a very great ex- 
tent, and led to the abominable custom of celi- 
bacy among the clergy, as now adhered to in 
the Roman Catholic Church. 

In the fourth century, Christianity became 

the established religion of the Roman empire, 

in consequence of some of its chief dignitaries 

being converted to that faith. Constantine the 

Great, although by no means noted as a literary 

man, nor yet as a promoter of learning, was 

much more favorable to the study of the arts 

and sciences than had been most, at least, of his 

predecessors of the former century. He strove 

to inspire his subjects with a taste for such 

studies by furnishing libraries for their use. 
4* 



OO THE PATENT HAT. 

This was truly a highly commendable act, and 
worthy the imitation of those in authority living 
in a more enlightened age. He also granted to 
the Christians the privilege of worshiping Grod 
after their own manner, without being molested 
by their enemies. It has been conjectured that 
Constantine might have had selfish motives in 
view in these two acts ; that he favored the 
Christians, not on account of his love for the 
worship of the one only living and true God, 
but because he saw that the divine precepts 
which they taught, of living at peace with all 
men, and obeying those who had the rule over 
them, would, if carried out, insure safety and 
stability to his government. Also that he en- 
couraged learning, not on account of his love 
for literature, but because he saw that its ten- 
dency was to strengthen and advance Chris- 
tianity, and to overthrow the superstitious doc- 
trines of the various orders of monks, which at 
that time assumed, a fearful aspect, and threat- 
ened an end to all law and order. Whatever 
may have been the object of this emperor in 
favoring Christianity, one thing is certain, that 
he afterward embraced it himself, and ruled 
with such clemency that he gained the respect 
and admiration of his subjects, who finally ac- 



THE PATENT HAT. 87 

knowledged him head of the Church. It is 
said that his conversion to the Christian faith 
was brought about by a miraculous circumstance 
— that just before he engaged in battle with 
Maxentius, a luminous cross made its appearance 
in the heavens, bearing this inscription : " Hao 
vince" — " By this conquer." Some have doubted 
the truth of this story. It matters little, how- 
ever, whether his conversion was brought about 
by this means or some other. The Spirit of God 
strives with all men at times, and they are 
warned in various ways to change their course, 
and live in reference to eternity ; and it would 
be well for all if they would seriously consider 
these warnings ; especially would it be well for 
all rulers if they would imitate, in some re- 
spects at least, the actions of Constantine the 
Great — if they would endeavor to inspire their 
subjects with a love for the practice of those 
virtues which the Christian religion enjoins upon 
its members, and which tend to make a people 
intelligent, prosperous, and happy. 

What fearful responsibilities rest upon those 
in authority, in regard to encouraging virtuous 
actions among their subjects. But, alas! how 
many such there are who neither do this by 
precept nor example. Theirs is a life of incon- 



88 THE PATENT HAT. 

sideration, and ten chances to one their death 
will be one of remorse and wretchedness. 

Unhappily for the Church, the successors of 
Constantine did not continue to encourage the 
study of the arts and sciences, nor to secure to 
their subjects that religious liberty granted 
them by this indulgent emperor. When Ju- 
lian the Apostate ascended the imperial throne, 
he endeavored artfully to sap the very founda- 
tions of the Christian religion. It is true, he 
did not openly persecute the Christians unto 
death, as had the predecessors of Constantine; 
but he put an end to all their institutions of 
learning, and tried every means in his power to 
bring their religion into ridicule and contempt. 
To favor the Jews — for he affected great liber- 
ality — he endeavored to rebuild the temple at 
Jerusalem, but was compelled to abandon this 
project by divine interposition. "Whenever the 
workmen attempted to remove the rubbish of 
the ruined walls, great balls of fire would dart 
forth and destroy them. 

The revenues of the clergy, which had been 
enlarged considerably in the third century, 
being raised still higher by Constantine, now 
began to be scanned by avaricious men with a 
longing eye. Ministers of the gospel were 



THE PATENT HAT. 



finally elected by the suffrages of the people, 
and many were the aspirants for the clerical 
office in consequence of its remunerations. 
This, as might be supposed, had a most delete- 
rious effect on the purity of the Church, for 
ignorant, licentious profligates, were frequently 
chosen to fill this high and holy station ; and so 
furious were the contentions between rivals, 
that their claims were, at times, even decided 
by means of the sword. The power and au- 
thority of the clergy gradually increased, so that 
a degree of pomp was at length considered nec- 
essary to dignify the ministry. Many of the 
successful competitors for this sacred, but then 
degraded office, were of course illy qualified to 
officiate ; and it was not uncommon for them to 
hire substitutes to perform its duties, while they 
themselves lived on their large and stated sala- 
ries, in the gratification of all their sensual 
desires. 

Although Christianity gained the ascendancy 
in the fourth century, yet we need not wonder, 
when we consider the corruptness of many of 
the leading men in the Church, that from this 
time it began rapidly to decline. It still had, 
however, some learned defenders, among whom 
were Eusebius and Basil, Bishops of Csesarea: 



90 THE PATENT HAT. 

Chr ysostom, Bishop of Antioch . and Constanti- 
nople ; and Jerome, a learned monk of Palestine. 
But these men could do little more than keep 
alive the remaining spark of religion left in the 
Church, so great was the opposition from the 
dense cloud of ignorance and superstition, which 
threatened to extinguish all with its offensive 
vapors. And, indeed, their own luster was 
somewhat dimmed by this fearful mist. 

Several more of the emperors, in the latter 
part of this century, were likewise defenders of 
Christianity, particularly Theodosius the Great, 
who appears to have desired to render it all the 
assistance in his power. Yet he acted very in- 
considerately, in one thing, at least — in exalting 
to posts of honor and authority individuals who 
had in some respects distinguished themselves, 
yet who were bitter enemies of Christianity 
and warm friends of the Pagan philosophy, 
which, by other enactments, Theodosius, sought 
to overthrow. 

How many well-meaning Christians of the 
present time act in the same manner, by giving 
their votes to party demagogues, who pretend 
to have achieved some great and glorious action 
for their country, — perhaps in having manifested 
a disposition to Mil some of their fellow-men • 



THE PATENT HAT. 91 

but when they get into our legislative halls, or 
some other post of authority, they work alone 
for self, and perhaps treat with open contempt 
the religion of Jesus Christ ! 

Among the notorious opposers of learning, of 
the fourth century, was Antony, to whom we 
have before referred. He was not, however, 
the originator of monkery, but the organizer of 
the Egyptian fanatics into a society, that they 
might thus the more successfully, render each 
other miserable. To Ammonius Sacca, a learned 
philosopher of the Alexandrian school, who 
nourished in the latter part of the second cen- 
tury, belongs the disgrace of giving rise to this 
order of madmen, who believed they should 
obey that maxim in heathen philosophy held 
forth by him : " In order to attain to true felicity 
and communion with God, it is necessary that 
the soul be separated from the body, even in 
this life, and that the body be macerated and 
mortified for this purpose." These opposers of 
light and truth were not confined alone to Egypt. 
They were organized in Greece by an ingenious 
enthusiast who feigned to be the disciple of St. 
Paul, and called himself Dionysius the Areop- 
agite. A learned author, in speaking of him, 
says: "No sooner were the writings and in- 



92 THE PATENT HAT. 

structions of this fanatic handed about among 
the Greeks and Syrians, and particularly among 
the solitaries and monks, than a gloomy cloud 
of religious darkness began to spread itself over 
the minds of many. An incredible number of 
proselytes joined those chimerical sectaries, 
who maintained that communion with God was 
to be sought by mortifying the senses, by with- 
drawing the mind from all external objects, by 
macerating the body with hunger and labor, 
and by a holy sort of indolence, which confined 
all the activity of the soul to a lazy contempla- 
tion of things spiritual and eternal." Had the 
teachers generally, in the Christian Church, 
manifested the same zeal for the promotion of 
true learning that these leading fanatics did for 
that of their holy ignorance, the Church would 
have stood firm amid all the opposition that its 
enemies could have brought against it. But, 
alas! such was not the case. With compara- 
tively a few honorable exceptions, the clergy 
was composed of ignorant, superstitious men, 
especially during the latter part of the fourth 
century. Pictures, images, and sacred relics 
began at that time to be venerated ; and, during 
the fifth century, this practice was carried to so 
great an extent, that showing and disposing of 



THE PATENT HAT. 93 

these things became a lucrative business. In 
this century, bishops and presbyters began to be 
chosen from among the monastic orders, whose 
members had till this time lived secluded from 
the world — mostly in dens and caverns in the 
earth. But now monks and holy virgins were 
looked upon for a while as the pillars of the 
Christian Church — if we may be allowed to call 
it by that name — which was indeed, at this 
period, a corrupt mass of monkery and licen- 
tiousness, mingled with the remains of religion. 
Ignorance had so far gained the ascendency 
over learning, that we might suppose the latter 
was treated with almost universal contempt; 
yet some of the more thinking, considerate por- 
tion of mankind still saw its utility, and a few 
stood forth manfully in its defense against the 
great tide of opposition which threatened to 
sweep it from the face of the earth. At the 
head of these stands Cyril, Bishop of Alexan- 
dria, renowned for his erudition as a defender 
of Christianity, though censurable for his pro- 
ceedings against Nestorius, and for some other 
acts in which he showed a rash and turbu- 
lent disposition. Isidore and Theodorus, both 
men of great learning and piety, are well de- 
serving the gratitude of Christians for the aid 



94 THE PATENT HAT. 

which they rendered the Christian Church in its 
abject condition by their learned commentaries 
on portions of the Scriptures. The former also 
boldly wrote against the corrupt practices which 
had become popular among the clergy. Leo I., 
Bishop of Rome, was the most noted of the Latin 
writers of this century. He is acknowledged to 
have been a man of considerable learning and 
genius, but it is to be lamented that he used it 
principally in extending his own power. It had 
been a custom in the Church previous to this 
time for persons to confess their sins publicly be- 
fore their brethren, that they might receive their 
sympathy and prayers : but Leo changed this, 
and granted to the penitent permission to con- 
fess privately before a single priest. This change 
was doubtless very acceptable to those who 
wished to indulge in crime, but dreaded public 
exposure, and no less advantageous to the priest 
in a pecuniary point of view. To the shame of 
the Romish Church it still continues this unscrip- 
tural practice. " It will not be improper to ob- 
serve here," — says Mosheim, in his chapter on 
Church Doctrine of the Fifth Century, and 
neither do we think it so, for our purpose, — 
"that the famous Pagan doctrine concerning the 
purification of departed souls, by means of a cer- 



THE PATENT HAT. 95 

tain kind of fire, was now more amply explained 
and established than it had formerly been. 
Every one knows that this doctrine proved an 
inexhaustible source of riches to the clergy 
through the succeeding ages, and that it still 
enriches the Romish Church with its nutritious 
streams." 

We mention these things, and may perhaps 
speak of some others, to call attention to the 
fact, that the Roman Catholic Church still con- 
tains many of the rites and ceremonies intro- 
duced by the selfish priests during the dark ages, 
when the masses were so easily duped on account 
of their excessive ignorance. 



96 THE PATENT HAT. 



CHAPTER in. 

What is a man, 
If his chief good and market of his time 
Be but to sleep and feed ? A beast, no more. 
Sure, he that made us with such large discourse, 
Looking before and after, gave us not 
That capability and god-like reason 
To rust in us unused. — Shakapeare. 

In the sixth century the state of learning and 
Christianity was truly deplorable. The former, 
unable longer to resist openly the attack of prof- 
ligate rulers, pious fanatics, and armed barba- 
rians, concealed itself in cathedrals and monas- 
teries, where it lay almost entirely dormant for 
a period of six hundred years. The latter, 
abashed at the conduct of its pretended advocates, 
retired from the public gaze, and rarely made 
its appearance till its forerunner, learning, began 
to dispel the dismal mists of ignorance and su- 
perstition with its lucid beams of light and lib- 
erty. Strange as it may appear, that system of 
philosophy styled modern Platonism, which had 
been one of the most formidable enemies that 
Christianity had to contend with, and which had 
done more, perhaps, than all the rest of its ene- 
mies combined, to diminish the light of the 



THE PATENT HAT. 97 

gospel, — for it must be remembered that most of 
the fanatical sects which had disturbed the 
Church were the legitimate offspring of this 
heathen philosophy, — expired in this century. 
Yes, in the sixth century, when the leaders 
among those who adhered to the reasonings of 
Plato were seemingly about to eclipse all other 
doctrines, even that of Christianity, their system 
expired never to be rekindled. Justinian issued 
an edict, prohibiting its being taught at Athens, 
by means of which this false system was fortu- 
nately put out. It is to be lamented, however, 
that its ashes revived the growth of another 
baneful scion of Paganism, which the modem 
system had heretofore overrun by its thrifty 
growth, called the Aristotelian philosophy, which 
proved an inveterate enemy to the spread of 
truth. The subtle teachings of Aristotle were 
now highly lauded and commented on by the 
learned, and particularly by Philoponus. The 
teachers of' Christianity appear to have been, in 
one respect at least, like many at the present 
day — carried about with a love for the new and 
the marvelous. It seems, indeed, that the 
truths of the Bible were nowhere taught in their 
purity at this time, so that the path of duty be- 
came very obscure. Ignorance, which pre- 



98 THE PATENT HAT. 

pares the minds of a people for being easily im- 
posed upon, continued to deepen and to extend 
itself over the whole land during the sixth cen- 
tury, so that the seventh presented a most fertile 
soil to Mohammed, that arch-impostor, who so 
successfully, though injuriously to the cause "of 
Christianity, sowed it with those cursed seeds, 
whose plants, deeply rooted in superstition, still 
live, and obstruct the growth of truth and virtue 
in those countries where they were sown. 

Yet we need not wonder at the spread of his 
doctrine, when we consider that the minds of a 
people, shrouded in the grossest ignorance, are 
incapable of conceiving of any greater joys 
than those of sensuality ; and that these the 
false prophet offered profusely, not only in this 
life but in the groves of paradise, where every 
faithful Moslem is to be joined in eternal wed- 
lock with seventy-two black-eyed maidens of 
the most beautiful forms. In this century, 
Agatho, an arrogant priest, asserted that the 
Church at Kome had never erred; and from 
this assertion arose that impious doctrine of the 
infallibility of the pope. 

In the eighth century we find that ignorance 
and superstition were about gaining their acme, 
by laying aside the worship of the true God for 



THE PATENT HAT. 99 

that of images. This change, however, was 
strongly opposed by Charlemagne, who con- 
tended for the worship of God according to the 
plan laid down in the Scriptures. But, alas ! the 
means to which he resorted — namely, the force 
of arms — to Christianize idolaters, show very 
clearly that his understanding was darkened by 
the prevailing mist of superstition. There were, 
also, a few ministers of the gospel in this cen- 
tury who labored to extend their doctrines 
among the savage tribes ; but their labors were 
crowned with very little permanent success, for 
they did not enlighten the minds of the be- 
nighted people, and bring them over by Chris- 
tian persuasion. Like Charlemagne, they fre- 
quently compelled them to acknowledge the 
religion of Jesus Christ. At the head of those 
who distinguished themselves for their zeal in 
the Christian cause stands "Winfred, better 
known by the name of Boniface ; and who, on 
account of his untiring labors as a missionary, 
was styled the Apostle of the Germans. But 
by examining his actions, we see that he lacked 
the light of science to drive away the cloud of 
superstition, and give him a clear view of the 
doctrines of Christianity. "In combating the 
Pagan superstitions, he did not always use those 



100 THE PATENT HAT. 

arms with which the ancient heralds of the 
gospel gained such victories in behalf of the 
truth ; but often employed violence and terror, 
and sometimes artifice and fraud, in order to 
multiply the number of Christians. His epis- 
tles, moreover, discover an imperious and arro- 
gant temper, a cunning and insidious turn of 
mind, an excessive zeal for increasing the honors 
and pretensions of the sacerdotal order, and a 
profound ignorance of many things of which 
the knowledge was absolutely necessary in an 
apostle, and particularly of the true nature and 
genius of the Christian religion." 

Li the beginning of the ninth century the 
Christian religion was in a more flourishing 
condition than it had been, perhaps, since the 
reign of Constantine. This state of prosperity 
is attributed to the zeal of the Emperor Charle- 
magne ; not to his direct advancement of reli- 
gion by compulsion, which was but formal, but 
to the encouragement he offered to such as would 
apply themselves to useful study, and espe- 
cially the study of the Scriptures. " His zeal," 
says Mosheim, " for the interests of Christianity, 
and his liberality to the learned, encouraged 
many to apply themselves diligently to the 
study of the Scriptures, and to the pursuit of 



THE PATENT HAT. 101 

religious truth ; and as long as this eminent set 
of divines remained, the Western provinces 
were happily preserved from many errors, and 
from a variety of superstitious practices. Thus 
we find among the writers of this age, several 
men of eminent talents, whose productions show 
that the luster of true erudition and theology 
was not yet totally eclipsed. But these bright 
luminaries of the Church disappeared one after 
another; and barbarism and ignorance, en- 
couraged by their departure, resumed their an- 
cient seats, and brought, in their train, a prodi- 
gious multitude of devout follies, odious super- 
stitions, and abominable errors." Idolatry, the 
consequent attendant of ignorance and supersti- 
tion, now became the almost universal religion 
of the people. Bones, and other pretended 
relics of the saints, were the chief objects of 
worship. There were, however, a few, notwith- 
standing the thick darkness which surrounded 
them, who still maintained the form of Chris- 
tianity, and worshiped the true and living God. 
During the reign of Basilius, a Grecian em- 
peror who was favorable to Christianity, several 
of the northern countries of Europe were con- 
verted, at least to a form of that faith ; and that 
they possessed some of the spirit also cannot 



102 THE PATENT HAT. 

be questioned, since that able, though skeptical 
author, Mr. Gibbon, has attested the fact in his 
"Decline and Fall of the Eoman Empire." 
" Truth and candor," says he, " must ac- 
knowledge that the conversion of the North 
imparted many temporal benefits both to the 
old and new Christians. The rage of war, in- 
herent to the human species, could not be healed 
by the evangelic precepts of charity and peace ; 
and the ambition of Catholic princes has re- 
newed in every age the calamities of hostile 
contention. But the admission of the barba- 
rians into the pale of civil and ecclesiastical 
society, delivered Europe from the depredations, 
by sea and land, of the Normans, the Hun- 
garians, and the Russians, who learned to spare 
their brethren and cultivate their possessions. 
The establishment of law and order was pro- 
moted by the influence of the clergy ; and the 
rudiments of art and science were introduced 
into the savage countries of the globe." 

That the tenth century was the darkest of the 
dark ages, appears to be the united testimony 
of those who have written on this subject. But 
even in this dismal night of pitchy blackness, 
there appeared now and then gleams of sacred 
light, some of which, indeed, proved to be 



THE PATENT HAT. 103 

but transient meteors, as were most of those 
which made their appearance during the several 
preceding ages. The Christian religion was es- 
tablished both in Poland and Russia in this 
century; for although many of the Russians 
had been proselyted to that faith in the pre- 
ceding century, they all went back to their idols 
as soon as their zealous teachers were gone. 
The introduction of the gospel into these two 
countries, at this time, was effected through the 
zealous efforts of two pious ladies — Dambrow- 
ska, Duchess of Poland, and Anne, Duchess of 
Russia. Each of these noble women per- 
suaded their husbands — though the dukes were 
both very reluctant at first — to forsake their 
idols, and to embrace the Christian faith. The 
advancement of virtue and religion, and indeed 
of almost every thing else great and noble, is 
dependent on the labors of pious women; for 
what cannot a kind mother, an affectionate 
sister, or a loving wife accomplish? When 
their minds and hearts are properly cultivated, 
they raise man to his proper sphere in life. The 
anxious mother directs her son, by timely and 
wise instructions, to walk in the path of virtue ; 
the watchful sister kindly leads back her brother 
when he goes astray ; and the ambitious wife 



104 THE PATENT HAT. 

urges on her partner to deeds of noble daring. 
A shameful neglect of the education of females 
largely contributed, without doubt, in bringing 
mankind into that deplorable condition in which 
we find them in the middle of the tenth 
century. 

A number of the savage Tartars also made a 
profession of the Christian religion in this age 
of ignorance, directed by the preaching of a 
few zealous missionaries from among the Nes- 
torians, a sect holding to the doctrines taught in 
the fifth century by Nestorius, a bishop of Con- 
stantinople, who was exiled on account of his 
opposition to the Apollinarians ; who, among 
other things contrary to his views, styled the 
Virgin Mary the mother of God. But the zeal 
of the mass of the clergy of this century was 
widely different from that of these Nestorian 
missionaries. An anecdote related of Theo- 
phylact, a Grecian father, who lived at that 
time, will perhaps give us a much better con- 
ception of it. He, it appears, took a great de- 
light in hunting, and in raising dogs and horses 
for the chase ; and according to the best ac- 
counts we have of him, he had but little con- 
cern for anything else. Especially did he glory 
in raising fine horses, of which he kept a great 




1 ^'z- jz 



THE PATENT HAT. 107 

number, and fed them on the choicest fruits and 
nuts, steeped in the best of wines, and the whole 
highly perfumed. One day, as this "holy 
father" was performing the ceremonies of mass, 
forgetting, no doubt for a while, the cares of 
the stable, he received the intelligence that a 
certain mare, a particular favorite of his, had 
foaled. This was too much for the old man's 
religious devotion to withstand. He stopped at 
once, in the midst of the solemn service, left 
the church, and ran in transports of delight to 
the stable ; when, after having satisfied his 
curiosity, and seen that his services were no 
longer needed in officiating, concerning the 
treatment of the young colt and its mother, he 
returned to his waiting audience and completed 
his official duties as a holy priest of God. 
Such follies we may always expect to find 
where ignorance, such as characterized the 
tenth century, prevails. 

There were, it is true, schools established ex- 
pressly for the purpose of instructing in the 
various sciences, as then understood, those who 
were exj:>ecting to enter the ministry. But how 
can we expect a school to turn out bright 
scholars if its teachers are ignorant, supersti- 
tious men? "Nothing," says an author in 



108 THE PATENT HAT. 

speaking of these institutions, " can be more 
wretchedly barbarous than the manner in which 
the sciences were taught in them." And what 
must have been the moral and religious training 
given in these schools, if we take Theophylact 
as a fair sample of their alumni? 

During the latter part of this century, Ger- 
bert, an aspiring Frenchman, who assumed the 
title of Sylvester II., did much to encourage the 
study of the sciences, especially that of mathe- 
matics. His knowledge, although superficial 
when compared with that of learned men of 
modern times, was at first considered wonderful, 
and his teachings incomprehensible, not only by 
the common people, but even by the pretended 
philosophers of that barbarous age. They even 
considered the demonstration of a geometrical 
problem the work of magic, and accused Ger- 
bert of being in league with the devil. Among 
other false notions which obtained in this age of 
follies, was a belief that the final judgment 
was near at hand. It was nothing uncommon 
at that time, historians tell us, to behold fine 
churches and other buildings going to wreck ; 
for the superstitious people thought that they 
would no longer be of any service to them, as 
the end was drawing nigh. In short, all busi- 



THE PATENT HAT. 109 

ness was shamefully neglected; and when an 
eclipse of the sun or moon occurred, the mis- 
erable wretches ran to the mountains, and con- 
cealed themselves in dens and caves. But we 
need not marvel at this, for we occasionally 
behold a few in this age who act in the same 
foolish manner. 

During the eleventh century learning began 
to show some unmistakable signs of life, by 
rubbing her heavy eyes, and casting them wist- 
fully around upon the dark, dark world. But 
it was yet a great while before she became fully 
aroused from her long and fearful state of 
torpidity, and again fearlessly ventured forth 
from her wretched retreat, to cheer and gladden 
the gloomy spirits of those seeking light and 
knowledge to guide them into the way of holi- 
ness. The revival of literature received, doubt- 
less, a great check, just as it was beginning to 
dawn, by the " holy wars" against the infidels 
of Palestine, which commenced in the latter 
part of this century. Peter the Hermit, the 
great leader of the first Crusade, left an example 
to the world, showing that great things can be 
accomplished by an earnest, zealous perse- 
verance. If each one of Christ's ministers 
would manifest the same interest in raising a 



110 



THE PATENT HAT. 



mighty army of soldiers of the cross, to combat 
against the powers of darkness, that Peter did 
in raising one to drive out the wicked inhabit- 
ants from the holy land, would there not be a 
greater rallying around the gospel banner? 
And would not thousands, who have never se- 
riously considered the matter, willingly volun- 
teer their services in the Redeemer's cause ? O 
ye who are leaders in the great army of Christ, 
consider your high calling ! Meditate upon the 
worth of souls ! Look to it that ye be able to 
present a full report of your generalship, on the 
great day of reckoning ! — a report that will be 
favorably received by the impartial Judge, who 
will render to every man according as his works 
shall be. Beware that scores of witnesses do 
not then come up and testify that you never 
earnestly presented to them the importance of 
enlisting in the service of King Immanuel, 
and that they judged from your actions that 
you considered it a matter of little importance 
whether or not you persuaded any more to 
volunteer. Let not your energies fag at 
discouragements — "Be not weary in well 
doing." 

The arts and sciences were advanced con- 
siderably in the twelfth century, by the liber- 



THE PATENT HAT. Ill 

ality of several of the emperors in encouraging 
the study of them. They saw the happy effect 
that a general diffusion of knowledge would 
have on their people. Alexius Comnenus, 
whose life has been handed down to us, so 
elegantly written by his accomplished daughter 
Anna, was a very worthy patron of the useful 
sciences. "The sun of literature, which had 
only risen in the preceding century," says Dr. 
Enter, "proceeded gradually in this to en- 
lighten the whole Christian world." We must 
not, however, suppose from this that the great 
mass of the people of the twelfth century were 
educated, for such was far from being the case. 
For although, as we said, several of the em- 
perors did much for the spread of literature, yet 
others succeeding them, being blinded by ava- 
rice and superstition, would abolish all their 
salutary enactments for the encouragement of 
the study of the arts and sciences. And even 
among those who made the greatest pretensions 
to wisdom, were a set of selfish, unholy men, 
though professing godliness; that is, the pope 
and priests, who wished to have learning con- 
fined to their own order, that they might use 
the ignorance of the multitude to their own 
advantage. And this, the Roman bishops 



112 THE PATENT HAT. 

brought about most successfully by the sale of 
indulgences, which foul means of fleecing their 
flocks they instituted in this century. By 
means of these indulgences, they professed to 
grant to the purchaser the remission of penal- 
ties for transgression, which, prior to that, had 
been atoned for by penance. And finally they 
pretended not only to remit penalties which the 
civil and ecclesiastical laws had enacted, but 
even to abolish future punishment. This foul 
institution of wickedness was joyfully received 
by the ignorant rabble, in the fond delusion 
that they were now able to atone for any sin, 
no matter how great, by paying the stated fee 
to the pope or his agents. 

The thirteenth century produced some very 
learned men; among whom was the justly-cele- 
brated Roger Bacon, a man of uncommon eru- 
dition. He made several important discoveries, 
while prosecuting his profound researches into 
the hidden mysteries of science ; but instead of 
receiving approbation and support from those 
who had it in their power to aid and encourage 
him in his laudable work of enlightening the 
world, he was accused of being a magician, on 
account of which he was confined in prison for 
many years, Others, who labored to acquire 



THE PATENT HAT. 113 

knowledge and to diffuse its light through the 
dark world, received like treatment. 

The bodies of two of Bacon's cotemporaries, 
men renowned for their labors in the field of 
science, were burned by a decree of the merci- 
less inquisition, a court instituted by Dominic, a 
Spanish priest, under the authority of Pope In- 
nocent III. 

The first work of the inquisitors was in trying 
to suppress several sects of zealous Christians, 
called heretics, especially the Albigenses and 
Waldenses, who will ever be remembered, while 
the pages of history lay open to the world, for 
that most inhuman treatment which they long 
endured for disregarding and condemning the 
assumed authority of the popp. But, finally, this 
fiendish tribunal was established in every city 
throughout the land, for the purpose of extir- 
pating heresy in all its forms, or, rather, for in- 
flicting the most cruel tortures that the ingenu- 
ity of devils could invent, on those who con- 
tinued to protest against the pope, or who in any 
way sought to enlighten the minds of the people. 
Yet fire and water proved ineffectual for extin- 
guishing learning and religion, though they kept 
it long buried in blood and ashes. 

Innocent III. labored assiduously to increase 



114 THE PATENT HAT. 

the power and authority of the pope and priests ; 
and he introduced several new rites and cere- 
monies, which are still retained in the Roman 
Catholic Church. The manner in which the 
body and blood of Christ are present in the 
eucharist, had been long a matter of discussion 
in the Church ; but this pontiff introduced the 
use of the term transubstantiation, and estab- 
lished that doctrine. He also imperiously addeS 
to the duties which Christ imposed upon his fol- 
lowers, that of auricular confession to a priest, 
made privately, in which penitents were re- 
quired to reveal every particular sin and folly 
which they had committed, and even to make 
known to the inquisitive priest their unholy 
thoughts ! Some ojf the priests, long before this, 
had favored the plau of having penitents confess 
to them privately. Even as far back as the 
fifth century, Leo had adopted this plan of hear- 
ing the confession of his flock. In fact, the 
Greeks commenced the practice of private con- 
fession, in the fourth century, to a particular 
order of priests chosen expressly for that pur- 
pose. They soon abolished this custom, how- 
ever, on account of the criminal abuses which 
they saw would be likely to grow out of it. 
" An offending female," says Priestly, " during 



THE PATENT HAT. 115 

the appointed time which she remained in the 
church, to wipe off, by fasting and prayer, her 
former offenses, had been seduced by one of the 
deacons to contract fresh guilt. From this 
period all confession, whether public or private, 
appears to have been discontinued by the Greek 
Church, and it is affirmed, that from this period 
the Greeks made their confessions only to God." 
Well would it be for the poor, deluded Catholics 
if they would abandon, as did the Greeks, the 
dangerous practice of relating privately to a 
crafty priest all their sins and follies, through 
the vain hope that he possesses any power to 
absolve them. Christians, it is true, are com- 
manded to confess their faults one to another; 
but this command makes it just as obligatory 
for pastors to confess their faults to their flock as 
for the most humble penitent to confess to them. 
Disputed points are very apt to be carried to 
extremes. Such has been the case concerning 
the duty of confession. The pope, on the one 
hand, has impiously assumed the power possessed 
by God alone, in professing to forgive the sins of 
those who make their confessions to him, either 
directly or through the priests. And, on the 
other hand, Protestants have almost entirely 
ibandoued the duty of openly confessing their 



116 THE PATENT HAT. 

faults one to another, that they may be benefited 
by each other's prayers, remembering that the 
fervent effectual prayer of the righteous availeth 
much. 

If all Christians, not excluding the clergy, 
were as seriously impressed as they should be 
with the duty of confession, many would soon 
be enabled to free themselves from odious faults 
which are preying upon them as doth a canker. 

Although, as we have seen, private confessions 
were practiced to some extent as far back as the 
fourth century, yet Pope Innocent III., of the 
thirteenth, was the first to adopt it as an estab- 
lished rule of the Church. 

The power of the popes having reached the 
summit of its glory, commenced declining in the 
fourteenth century. Boniface VIII. arrogantly 
declared, that by divine command all the kings 
and princes of the earth were compelled to sub- 
mit to the pope's authority, not only in ecclesias- 
tical, but even in civil and political affairs. But 
Philip the Fair, king of France, informed his 
worship, Pope Boniface, that he did not believe 
him. This so exasperated the haughty pontiff, 
to have his "infallible assertions" called into 
question, that he published to the world his 
Unam Scmetam, that famous bull in which he 



THE PATENT HAT. 117 

asserted that Jesus Christ had subjected the 
whole human race to the authority of the Roman 
popes ; and that, whoever dared to deny this, for- 
feited, by so doing, all possible hope of salvation. 
Philip, however, far from being frightened at 
this impious declaration, called an assembly of 
the peers of his realm, and, after deliberating 
the matter, he ordered William de Nogaret, a 
celebrated lawyer, to draw up an accusation 
against the pope, in which he publicly charged 
him with the most flagrant vices. He after- 
ward sent a band of resolute men, headed by 
de Nogaret, into Italy, with orders to seize the 
pope, and bring him to Lyons. They proceeded 
to Anagni, where Boniface dwelt in all security, 
as he supposed, from the power of mortals. Yet 
he was captured by these daring men, and even 
received a wound on the head from the intrepid 
Nogaret by a blow with his iron gauntlet. But 
after all, these men did not succeed in getting 
off safely with their victim ; for the Anagnians 
marched against them with their forces, rescued 
the frightened pope, and hastily carried him to 
Rome, where he soon died through grief for the 
insults offered to his majesty. Forney, in speak- 
ing of this turbulent pontificate, says, " He en- 
tered upon it like a fox, governed like a lion, 



118 THE PATENT HAT. 

and died like a dog." His successor, Benedict 
XI., took warning from the fatal issue of his as- 
pirations to attain lordly power, and pursued a 
more moderate course. He repealed the sen- 
tence of excommunication which his tyrannical 
predecessor had passed on Philip and his do- 
minions, but would not absolve Nogaret from 
the awful-sounding condemnation hurled on him 
by the infuriated pontiff. Benedict was soon 
called by death to leave the papal chair, which 
was next rilled by Clement V., a Frenchman, of 
Bordeaux. This pontiff issued a bull, in which 
he condemned and revoked the obnoxious decrees 
of Boniface, which Benedict had not repealed. 
He also promised Nogaret free absolution, by his 
performing a nominal penance ; but this inveter- 
ate enemy of popery would not deign to accept 
of his easy terms of forgiveness. Where is the 
Catholic, who, if he had a knowledge of the past 
actions of the popes, and had the spirit of a mam, 
to think for himself without being biased by 
the crafty priests, would say that his Church is 
infallible? 

John "Wiclif, Professor of Divinity at Oxford, 
a man of extraordinary learning, was a bold ad- 
vocate of the doctrine of Christianity, as taught 
in the Scriptures, He reproved the popes for 



THE PATENT HAT. 119 

their corrupt practices, for which he was de- 
prived of his professorship, and a monk substi- 
tuted in his place. This, however, did not stop 
him from laboring for the advancement of Chris- 
tianity. He exhorted the people to study the 
Scriptures, and see for themselves what God re- 
quired at their hands; and to enable his un- 
learned countrymen to do this, he translated the 
Sacred Writings from the Latin Yulgate into 
English. So great an influence did the works 
of this noble man continue to have in enlighten- 
ing the minds of the people and disturbing the 
peace of the selfish priests, by diminishing the 
streams of wealth which flowed into their coffers 
from the sale of indulgences, that in the follow- 
ing century they ordered his bones to be dug up 
and burned, together with all his writings ! 



120 THE PATENT HAT. 



CHAPTEE IT. 

Lives of great men all remind us 
We can make our lives sublime, 
And departing, leave behind us 
Footprints on the sands of time — 
Footprints that, perchance, another, 
Sailing o'er life's troubled main, 
A forlorn and shipwreck'd brother, 
Seeing, shall take heart again. — Longfellow. 

The fifteenth century was fraught with memo- 
rable events which do honor to religion and 
learning. John Huss, Professor of Divinity in 
the University of Prague, and also pastor of the 
Church in that city, a man of uncommon erudi- 
tion, and renowned for his eloquence, suffered 
martyrdom in the beginning of this century for 
the cause of his Divine Master. He had adopted 
the sentiments of Wiclif, and fearlessly in- 
veighed against the gross corruptions of the Ro- 
man clergy. His enemies summoned hirn to 
appear before them in council, and answer to 
the charges brought against him. He hesitated 
not to obey this summons, knowing that he had 
neither violated truth nor justice ; yet the un- 
godly council declared him a heretic, and ordered 



THE PATENT HAT. 121 

him to renounce his faith in Christ. This he 
boldly declared he would never do. The fiend- 
ish papists then condemned him to be burned 
to death. When brought to the place of execu- 
tion, with his eyes raised to heaven, he exclaimed, 
" Into thy hands, O Lord, do I commit my spirit ! 
thou hast redeemed me, O most good and faith- 
ful God. Lord Jesus Christ, assist and help me, 
that with a firm and present mind, by thy most 
powerful grace, I may undergo this most cruel 
and ignominious death, to which I am con- 
demned for preaching the truth of thy most holy 
gospel." And when the executioner was about 
chaining him to the stake, with a countenance full 
of heaven, he said, " My Lord Jesus Christ was 
bound with a harder chain than this for my sake, 
and why should I be ashamed of this old rusty 
one ?" The fuel which was to consume his body 
was now piled around him, and the executioner 
stood with lighted torch to set it on fire. Huss 
was again asked if he would now renounce his 
doctrine. " Eo," said he ; "I never preached 
any doctrine of an evil tendency; and what I 
taught with my lips, I seal with my blood." So 
the flames were kindled, and he died exclaiming, 
" Jesus Christ, thou Son of the living God, have 
mercy upon me !" 



122 THE PATENT HAT. 

Jerome of Prague, who, through his sincere and 
generous friendship for the persecuted Huss, had 
accompanied him to his trial, for the purpose 
of supporting and defending him at the peril of 
his own life, met with the same unhappy fate. 

The city of Genoa, in Italy, has the honor of 
giving birth, in the fifteenth century, to one of 
the most renowned of men. My readers will at 
once anticipate that bold navigator, Christopher 
Columbus, who, by his deep researches into the 
science of astronomy, conceived a correct notion 
of the form of our earth ; and, wisely concluding 
that there were unknown lands on the opposite 
side of it, set out, against almost insurmountable 
difficulties, in search of them. And behold what 
great good his labors have accomplished ? His 
New World has since formed an asylum for the 
persecuted followers of Jesus Christ, where they 
can worship God according to their own views 
of the doctrine of salvation, as taught in the Bi- 
ble, and no one dare to molest them. 

In this century was also discovered the art of 
printing, which gave a new impulse to the ad- 
vancement of learning, and which has since 
been the means, under God, of enlightening and 
Christianizing thousands of our race. A number 
of cotemporaries claimed the honor of this im- 



THE PATENT HAT. 123 

portant discovery, and it has never been decided 
to a certainty to whom it is due. Most writers 
ascribe it to Faust. Some, however, give it to 
Guttemburg, others to Mentol, and others still 
argue with great learning that Coster was the 
originator of printing with wooden types. 

In the beginning of the sixteenth century 
came forth that great reformer, Martin Luther, 
to whom we have before adverted. He was 
born, in the latter part of the fifteenth century, 
at Eisleben, in Germany; and notwithstanding 
the scanty means his parents possessed, they 
contrived to give to little Martin all the advan- 
tages which an early education could afford, 
having trained him from infancy in the fear of 
God, and started him to school as soon as they 
considered him of a proper age. Luther's pa- 
rents sent him away from home, when fourteen 
years old, to attend a Franciscan school at Mag- 
deberg, although they well knew that it was 
not in their power to furnish him with sufficient 
means to pay his way while there. It was then 
customary, in many of the towns and cities of 
Germany, for poor boys to support themselves at 
school by begging their daily bread, and, to at- 
tract the attention and excite the sympathies of 
the people, they would frequently stand before 



124 THE PATENT HAT. 

their doors and sing. What would some of our 
wealthy students think if they had to resort to such 
means to obtain an education? Hear Luther's 
own testimony of his struggles to acquire his 
daily bread while at Magdeberg : " I was accus- 
tomed," says he, "with my companions to beg 
a little food to supply our wants. One day, 
about Christmas-time, we were going all to- 
gether through the neighboring villages, from 
house to house, singing in concert the usual 
carols on the infant Jesus, born at Bethlehem. 
We stopped in front of a peasant's house, which 
stood detached from the rest, at the extremity 
of the village. The peasant, hearing us sirig our 
Christmas carols, came out with some food, which 
he meant to give us, and asked in a rough, loud 
voice, ' Where are you, boys V Terrified at these 
words, we ran away as fast as we could. We 
had no reason to fear, for the peasant offered us 
this assistance in kindness ; but our hearts were 
no doubt become fearful from the threats and 
tyranny which the masters then used toward 
their scholars, so that we were seized with sud- 
den fright. At last, however, as the peasant 
still continued to call after us, we stopped, forgot 
our fears, ran to him, and received the food that 
he offered us." 



THE PATENT HAT. 125 

" It is thus," continues the reformer, " that 
we tremble and flee when our conscience is 
guilty and alarmed. Then we are afraid even 
of the help which is offered us, and of those who 
are our friends, and wish to do us good." Lu- 
ther supported himself in this manner, at the 
Magdeberg school, for about one year, when his 
parents sent him to a celebrated school in Eisen- 
ach, thinking he could obtain a living more 
easily in that place as they had relations residing 
there. But he still had to continue singing in 
the streets to obtain a scanty living, till he be- 
gan, at times, almost to despair of being able to 
do this longer. " One day in particular," says 
D'Aubigne, " after having been repulsed from 
three houses, he was about to return fasting to 
his lodging, when, having reached the Place St. 
George, he stood before the house of an honest 
burgher, motionless, and lost in painful reflections. 
Must he, for want of bread, give up his studies, 
and go to work with his father in the mines of 
Mansfield ! Suddenly a door opens ; a woman 
appears on the threshold : it is the wife of Con- 
rad Cotta, a daughter of the burgomaster of 
Eisfeld. Her name was Ursula. The chronicles 
of Eisenach call her ' the pious Shunammite,' in 
remembrance of her who so earnestly entreated 



126 THE PATENT HAT. 

the prophet Elijah to eat bread with her. This 
Christian Shunammite had more than once ob- 
served young Martin in the assemblies of the 
faithful ; she had been affected with the sweet- 
ness of his voice and his apparent devotion; 
she had heard the harsh words with which the. 
poor scholar had been repulsed; she saw him 
overwhelmed with sorrow before her door ; she 
came to his assistance, beckoned him to enter, 
and supplied his urgent wants. Conrad ap- 
proved his wife's benevolence ; he even found so 
much pleasure in the society of young Luther, 
that, a few days afterward, he took him to live 
in his house. From that moment he no longer 
feared to be obliged to relinquish his studies. 
He was not to return to Mansfield, and bury the 
talent that God had committed to his trust ? God 
had opened the heart and the doors of a Chris- 
tian family at the very moment when he did 
not know what would become of him. This 
event disposed his soul to that confidence in 
God which, at a later period, the severest trials 
could not shake." 

How admirably has the learned author of the 
" History of the Great Reformation" sketched 
the trying scenes through which his young hero 
had to pass, which we have so freely quoted ! 



THE PATENT HAT. 127 

And how clearly does this circumstance in the 
life of Luther, added to hundreds of a similar 
kind, prove that those who diligently and perse- 
veringly make use of such means as are in their 
power for qualifying themselves for usefulness, 
will, in some way, receive aid to enable them to 
carry out their laudable designs ! 

At the age of eighteen Luther entered the 
University at Erfurth, where he was supported 
by his parents, who now possessed a comfortable 
living, acquired by persevering industry, added 
to frugality. While at this institution it ap- 
pears that he delighted himself in reading and 
examining the books of the University library, 
and spent much of his leisure time in this foun- 
tain of both true and false learning. 

After he had been at Erfurth about two years, 
he was one day engaged at his favorite amuse- 
ment, being alone in the library, searching after 
truth and wisdom, when his eye rested upon a 
look which at once attracted his attention, al- 
though placed in an obscure corner, as if not 
worthy of notice. It was printed in one of the 
learned languages. He opens it, and reads the 
pleasing story of young Samuel and his mother, 
which fills his heart with joyous emotions. He 
examines this neglected book still further, and is 



128 THE PATENT HAT. 

scarcely able to restrain his delighted feelings. 
He had never before seen the Bible, for the 
priests did not allow it to be read by the com- 
mon people, and even themselves made no use 
of the greater part of the Scriptures. They had 
selected certain portions of the gospels and epis- 
tles which best suited their purpose, and from 
these they gave instruction to their flocks. 
Until this hour Luther had thought that this se- 
lection contained the whole of the sacred writ- 
ings, but he had now found the Word of God, 
and how delighted was he to find in it so many 
blessed promises to the faithful, of which he had 
never before heard. In this rejected book was 
concealed the germ of the great Reformation. 
By it he judged and condemned the iniquitous 
impositions of popery ; and afterward he trans- 
lated it into the language of his countrymen, 
that they might read and judge for themselves, 
and no longer be kept in ignorance by the self- 
ish priests. 

But we need not speak at large of the results 
of the learned labors of Martin Luther, and his 
co-workers Melancthon and Zwingle. All are 
acquainted — or should be, at least — with the 
circumstances of that glorious reformation 
effected through them. Though we spoke of 



THE PATENT HAT. 129 

several parts of Europe being converted to 
Christianity in the dark ages, when ignorance 
reigned almost supreme, yet we find that the 
mass of the people soon returned to the worship 
of images, being too ignorant to hold conceptions 
of things invisible. 

Such, however, was not the case in the six- 
teenth century. The leaders in this reformation 
were not satisfied by effecting a mere nominal 
conversion to Christianity but labored to en- 
lighten the minds of the people, not only by an 
acquaintance with the Scriptures, but also by a 
knowledge of the sciences, thus firmly estab- 
lishing their faith in God. Well did these re- 
formers know that religion and learning must 
ever go hand in hand. "Well did they know 
that, if the people were not taught to think, 
to know, and to act for themselves, like the 
sow that was washed, they would soon return 
to their wallowing in the mire. Accordingly 
Luther addressed a letter to the councilors and 
magistrates of every city and town in Germany, 
in which he exhorted and urged them to found 
Christian schools. Hear him : " Dear Sirs, — 
So much money is annually expended in arque- 
buses, making roads, and constructing dykes ; 
how is it that a little is not expended for the 



130 THE PATENT HAT. 

instruction of our poor children? God stands 
at the door and knocks ; blessed are we if we 
open to him ! Now-a-days, there is no famine 
of God's word. My dear countrymen, buy, 
buy while the market is open before your 
dwellings. The Word of God and his grace 
resembles a shower, which falls and passes on. 
It fell among the Jews ; but it passed away, 
and now they have it no longer. Paul bore it 
with him to Greece ; but there also it is passed, 
and Mohammedanism prevails in its place. It 
came to Rome and the Latin territories; but 
from thence it likewise departed, and now Rome 
has the pope. O, Germans ! think not that 
you will never have the Word of God taken 
away from you. The little value you put upon 
it will cause it to be withdrawn ; therefore, he 
who would have it, must lay hold upon and 
keep it. Let our youth be the objects of your 
care, for many parents are like the ostrich, 
their hearts are hardened against their young, 
and, satisfied with having laid the egg, they 
give themselves no farther trouble about it; 
The prosperity of a town does not consist in 
amassing wealth, erecting walls, building man- 
sions, and the possession of arms. . . . But its 
well-being, its security, its strength, is to number 



THE PATENT HAT. 131 

within it many learned, serious, kind and well- 
educated citizens." Luther did not view the 
subject of preparing for the ministry as do 
many well-meaning people of the present time, 
whose text on this subject is, "Learning will 
never make a preacher." He insisted that those 
who purposed entering the ministry should study 
assiduously, not only theology and the sciences, 
but should also acquaint themselves with general 
literature. Especially did he urge the necessity 
of studying the languages. "We are asked," 
said he, "what is the use of learning Latin, 
Greek, and Hebrew, when we can read the 
Bible in German ?" And hear his reply : " Lan- 
guages are the scabbard in which the sword of 
the Spirit is found ; they are the casket which 
holds the jewels ; they are the vessels which con- 
tain the new wine ; they are the baskets in which 
are kept the loaves and fishes which are to feed 
the multitude. If we cease to study languages, 
we shall not only lose the gospel, but event- 
ually we shall be unable either to speak or write 
in Latin or in German. From the hour we 
throw them aside, Christianity may date its de- 
cline, even to falling again under the dominion 
of the pope. But now that languages are once 
more held in estimation, they diffuse such light 



132 THE PATENT HAT. 

that all mankind are astonished, and that every 
one may see that the gospel we preach is al- 
most as pure as that of the apostles themselves. 
The holy fathers of other days made many mis- 
takes by reason of their ignorance of languages ; 
in our time some, like the Yaudois of Piedmont, 
do not attach value to the study of them; but 
though their doctrine may be sound, they often 
fail of the real meaning of the sacred text ; they 
are without a safeguard against error, and I 
much fear their faith will not continue pure. 
If a knowledge of languages had not given me 
a certainty of the true sense of the Word, I 
might have been a pious monk, quietly preach- 
ing the truth in the obscurity of the cloister; 
but I should have left pope, sophists, and their 
anti-Christian power in the ascendant." Such 
is the testimony of the pious Luther in favor of 
learning as a supporter and defender of religion. 
Hear Melancthon in a few words : " They 
who despise general literature," says he, " make 
no more account of sacred theology. Their 
affected contempt is but a pretext to conceal 
their ignorance." And do we not generally find 
those who cry out most against an educated 
ministry to be men of very small attainments 
in literature, and envious against their superiors 



THE PATENT HAT. 133 

in knowledge ? But need we marvel that there 
are very many well-meaning, pious persons, 
who consider human learning as having a very 
doubtful tendency indeed, for good, in the 
propagation of the gospel; when we consider 
that there is such a propensity in the human 
mind to carry everything into the extremes? 
Some parents, forcibly struck by reading the 
astonishing results of the learned labors of some 
great reformer, to whom they are particularly 
attached, conclude at once that they will make 
a Luther or a Calvin out of their precocious 
boy. Accordingly, they set him aside for the 
ministry, notwithstanding it may be the very 
reverse of his inclinations and turn of mind. 
The boy is sent to college, and the parents 
spare no pains to enable him to perfect his 
theological training; but, alas! what a sad re- 
formation does his preaching effect. His nicely- 
pointed sermons contain no more soul than does 
the school-boy's declamation; and, in fact, the 
object of the two performers is about the same, 
namely, to "put it through" as well as they can, 
according to the rules of rhetoric. The parents 
of these manufactured divines surely do not 
consider that it is God's prerogative to choose 
his own embassadors, and that they are setting 



134 THE PATENT HAT. 

up their wisdom against his when they say which 
of their sons shall study a particular kind of 
theology, and act as a minister of the Most High. 
Can any person reasonably suppose that parents 
in this age of the world, even if they knew that 
one of their sons would make a successful 
minister, and that it was his duty to preach, 
could discern which was calculated for that 
work ? If so, they must attribute greater powers 
of discernment to them than Jesse, or even the 
prophet Samuel possessed. For the former 
seemed to think that any of his sons might 
answer God's purpose except David, and yet 
David was the one God had chosen. And the 
prophet was taught to know that "the Lord 
seeth not as man seeth." No person, therefore, 
although he possess all the qualifications of a 
preacher, (so far as human discernment can 
judge,) being thoroughly skilled in all the va- 
rious arts and sciences, and also in the Word of 
God, — so far as human teachings can make him, 
— is qualified to fill the sacred desk unless he 
be a chosen vessel of the Lord, who " seeth not 
as man seeth ; for man looketh on the outward 
appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart." 
1 Sam. xvi, 7. The essential qualifications of 
a minister, then, are, to have his heart right he- 



THE PATENT HAT. 135 

fore God ; to feel the welfare of immortal souls 
to he a matter of the utmost importance ; and to 
feel a willingness to sacrifice ease or pleasure, 
should the work of his Master demand it. We 
further add, that in order to labor successfully, 
he must not despise the means which God has 
placed within his power to enable him to per- 
suade sinners to love and serve that Being who 
wills their happiness. And have we not already 
shown that much more has been accomplished 
by those who spent years of their lives in ac- 
quiring a knowledge of literature, both sacred 
and profane, than by the ignorant and fanatical, 
who pretended to have such firm faith in God 
that they trusted to him to do the whole work, 
without using the means he required at their 
hands ? We do not pretend to claim that the 
most learned never fall into errors, — gross er- 
rors ; for that " great men (many of them, at 
least) have great faults," cannot be denied. 
These failings, however, are not by any means 
to be attributed to their learning. For instance, 
that reformer, of whom we have been speaking, 
and who, perhaps, did more for the advance- 
ment of true piety and religion than any other 
man living since the time of the apostles, on 
some occasions showed forth more obstinacv 



136 THE PATENT HAT. 

than becomes a Christian doctor. But who 
would say that, had it not been for his learning, 
he would not have possessed this self-assurance, 
and consequently have accomplished more good 
in the world ? Had he showed forth true learn- 
ing to better advantage in some of his discus- 
sions with others of the reformers on different 
views of Church doctrine, it would, doubtless, 
have been better for the cause of the Reforma- 
tion. Some may charge us with unjustly ac- 
cusing Luther of error in this respect. We will 
refer to one instance, and leave it to the reader 
to decide whether or not he manifested a refrac- 
tory spirit. 

Concerning the eucharist, Zwingle believed 
and taught that the bread and wine are but em- 
blems of the body and blood of Christ ; for which 
Luther, who taught that "the very body and 
blood of Jesus Christ are signs of God's grace," 
refused to acknowledge him as a brother in 
Christ. This disagreement was likely to grow 
into a serious evil, and many of the friends of 
the Reformation were anxious to have it ami- 
cably settled ; for which purpose Philip of 
Hesse sent letters to the doctors of the different 
parties, requesting them to meet at Marburg, 
and consider the matter by a fair discussion. 



THE PATENT HAT. 137 

Zwingle gladly accepted the proposal, but Lu- 
ther rejected it. The latter, however, finally 
accepted, when no chance was left honorably to 
avoid it. But hear Luther's manner of reason- 
ing on this subject, after having been reminded 
that the reestablishment of union was the ob- 
ject of the discussion: ."I protest," said he, 
" that I differ from my adversaries with regard 
to the doctrine of the Lord's supper, and that I 
shall always differ from them. Christ has said, 
'This is my body.' " [We should have remarked 
that, in the beginning of the discussion, Luther 
chalked on the table-cover, in large characters, 
" Hoc est corpus meum" which he used as his 
text, and declared the devil himself should not 
drive him from it.] " Let them show me," con- 
tinued Luther, " that a body is not a body. I 
reject reason, common-sense, carnal arguments 
and mathematical proofs." His opponents ar- 
gued that Christ expressed himself figuratively 
when he said, "This is my body," as he fre- 
quently did. For instance, he said, on another 
occasion, " I am the vine, ye are the branches ;" 
[that is, I represent a vine, and ye represent the 
branches.] Luther admitted that this, with 
other similar expressions, was to be understood 
figuratively ; " but see," said he, pointing to his 



138 THE PATENT HAT. 

Latin text, " it is written, ' Hog est corpus 
meum, 7 — " This is my body.' " (See D'Aubign£'s 
Hist. Ref., vol. iv.) Now Luther well knew that 
the words on which he placed so much stress 
were not the original, but a quotation from the 
Latin Vulgate ; and perhaps, had he been still 
more learned than he was, and understood 
better just what the Saviour said and meant, 
he would not have treated Zwingle and his 
followers so harshly as to refuse to call them 
brethren because they differed with him on this 
one point of doctrine. 

Dr. Clarke, in his discourse on the sacrament 
of the Lord's supper, says: — "That our Lord 
neither spoke in Greek or Latin on this occa- 
sion needs no proof. It was, most probably, in 
what was formerly called the Chaldaic, now the 
Syriac, that our Lord conversed with his disci- 
ples." And in the Hebrew, Chaldee, and Syriac 
languages, he observes that there is no term to 
express to seem, signify, represent, &c. ; but 
they use a figure, and say it is, for it signifies, or 
represents. He quotes a long list of examples 
in proof of this, as the seven kine are (i. e., rep- 
resent) seven years; the ten horns are (i. e., 
signify) ten kings, &c. As we have introduced 
the name of Clarke, we will quote one more 



THE PATENT HAT. 139 



sentence from his writings, which will express 
his views as to the presence of Christ's body in 
the eucharist. "When Christ took up a piece 
of bread, break it, and said, ' This is my body,' 
who but the most stupid of mortals," says he, 
" could imagine that he was at the same time 
handling and breaking his own body." As to 
these doctrines, on which the learned disagree, 
we would say with Paul, "Let every man be 
fully persuaded in his own mind ... for every 
one of us shall give account of himself to God." 
It is not for his belief that we here censure the 
great reformer, but for his obstinacy in trying 
to adjust the matter with those of a different be- 
lief. But who could expect to find perfection in 
a monk, reared up in such a corrupt and super- 
stitious faith as the Roman Catholic Church had 
acquired during the dark ages ! It is, indeed, a 
matter of admiration to behold how very few 
faults appear in the life of Luther. It is true it 
was long before he could extricate himself from 
many of the prejudices which he had early im- 
bibed in favor of the mother Church. For in- 
stance, more than forty years of his life had 
passed away before he seems to have thought 
that it would not be criminal for a clergyman 
to marry; and when at last the subject was 



140 THE PATENT HAT. 

forcibly presented to his mind, it caused him 
much serious thought and meditation before he 
could persuade himself that he might innocently 
enter into the bonds of God's sacred institution. 
But truth and reason finally triumphed over 
prejudice; and Luther, in his forty-third year, 
led to the altar his charming " Ketha." 

In one of his works, written shortly after 
his marriage, he says : " I have advised, and 
still advise, people to leave the convents 
and monasteries, and come out into the 
true Christian order, so as to escape from the 
abominations of the mass and affected sanctity, 
— as chastity, poverty, obedience, — by which 
they hope to be saved. For as laudable as it 
was in the infancy of the Christian Church to 
persist in a state of celibacy, it is equally worthy 
of detestation now by these institutions to deny 
the aid and grace of Christ; it is possible, in- 
deed, to live in a state of celibacy and widow- 
hood with chastity, independent of these detest- 
able institutions." 

Before Luther and his brave cotemporaries in 
the Reformation had left the stage of action, the 
celebrated Calvin, a man of extraordinary talent 
and learning, came forth to forward the glorious 
work which they had begun. In 1536 he was ap- 



THE PATENT HAT. 14:1 

pointed Professor of Divinity at Geneva, where, 
by his remarkable genius and eloquence, he 
soon raised up warm friends and bitter enemies. 
The latter, by their strong opposition, compelled 
him to flee from this post of honor after holding 
it a short time ; but he soon returned, and pur- 
sued his labors with renewed and indefatigable 
zeal. He aimed to make a still further reforma- 
tion in Church government, which had been so 
grossly abused by the authority of the pope, 
bishops, and magistrates, and to restore it to its 
primitive form. He maintained that a Church 
should be capable of governing itself without 
the authority of dignitaries, and enacted some 
very wise and salutary laws and regulations of a 
republican form. He restored the rite of ex- 
communication, as practiced by the Church in 
its primitive purity. He also endeavored to 
reconcile the two opposing parties among the re- 
formers, which were at such variance on account 
of the different views they entertained concerning 
the doctrine of the eucharist. He taught that 
those who receive the sacrament of the Lord's 
supper in faith, do partake of the body and 
blood of Christ, though in a spiritual sense. This 
was a medium between the doctrines of Luther 
and Zwingle ; but the Lutherans declared they 



142 THE PATENT HAT. 

would never compromise by yielding in the 
least point, and that a reconciliation could only 
be effected by the Zwinglians assenting to their 
views, which were, in the words of their leadei 
Luther, as translated from his vernacular Ian 
guage — " As soon as the words of consecration 
are pronounced over the bread the body is 
there, however wicked be the priest who pro- 
nounced them." The Zwinglians, on the other 
hand, who believed that the bread and wine 
were nothing more than symbolical of the body 
and blood of Christ, were not ready to admit 
that anything more was effected by means of 
this institution than bringing to mind the suffer- 
ings of the Saviour. So Calvin did not succeed 
in bringing about a reconciliation between the 
two parties, — nay, it is truly deplorable that this 
great man, instead of making peace in the Re- 
formed Church, as he desired, excited a still 
more alarming controversy, from his belief in 
that inconsistent doctrine which teaches that a 
just and merciful God had decreed, before the 
foundation of the world, that a certain portion of 
mankind should be eternally happy ; and that 
the remainder, without any hope of escaping 
their doom, by the performance of every known 
duty, were to be damned, world without end, 



THE PATENT HAT. 143 



CHAPTER Y. 

Then was the evil day of tyranny, 
Of kingly and of priestly tyranny, 
That bruis'd the nations long. — Pollok. 

The pope was wide awake to all disturbances 
among the reformers, and endeavored artfully 
to use them to his own advantage. He eagerly 
seized upon every chance to strengthen his de- 
clining power and disregarded authority, and 
endeavored to suppress whatever tended to en- 
lighten the minds of the people. Loug and 
severe, indeed, were the trials through which 
the reformers had to pass; and at times the 
papal authority seemed to threaten them with 
sudden destruction. 

During the reign of Mary, Queen of England, 
the pope and his adherents had a time of re- 
joicing and revelry; for, on ascending the 
throne, she had resolved to reinstate popery, 
which had been disregarded by her father, 
Henry YIIL, and also by her brother, Edward 
VI. Having entered into an alliance with the 
pope, she appointed inquisitors, in accordance 
with his wishes, for the suppression of heretics 



144 THE PATENT HAT. 

and heresy in all its forms. The reading of the 
Bible by the common people was strictly for- 
bidden ; marriage among the clergy, which had 
been rendered legal by an act of Parliament in 
the reign of Edward "VI., was now not only 
prohibited, but even such as had already entered 
into this sacred union were compelled either to 
drive from their homes the partners of their 
bosoms, with their tender offspring, or be ex- 
communicated as heretics. The Spanish coun- 
sels which this sanguinary queen received on 
entering into a marriage contract with Philip, 
Prince of Spain, rendered her still more austere 
and blood-thirsty. Hundreds of the reformers 
were put to the most cruel deaths during her 
wicked reign. Among those who perished at the 
stake, the names of Ridley, Latimer, and Cran- 
mer, the good, the venerable, and the renowned, 
will long be remembered. After this wretched 
woman had satiated her wrathful fury on the 
Protestants among her English subjects, she de- 
livered to one Dr. Cole a commission, signed by 
her own hand, authorizing him to inflict the 
same cruelties on those living in Ireland. The 
doctor having proceeded as far as Chester, on 
his way to put this hellish decree into execution, 
stopped at the house of a Mrs. Edmonds, where 



THE PATENT HAT. 145 

he was waited upon by the mayor of that place. 
During their conversation the doctor drew forth 
from his traveling sack a leather box, which, he 
remarked, contained a commission from the 
queen to lash the heretics of Ireland. The 
hostess observing this speech, was very much 
troubled, for she had Protestant friends living in 
Dublin, and was herself favorable to that reli- 
gion; so she watched her chance, and while 
the doctor was escorting the mayor down stairs, 
she took the commission out of the box and 
placed in its stead a pack of cards wrapped up 
in a sheet of paper. The doctor returned to his 
room and replaced his box, never suspecting 
that its contents had been changed. On his ar- 
rival at Dublin he called on the deputy, Lord 
Fitz Walter, and after informing him of his 
business, delivered to him the 'leather box. His 
lordship commanded it to be opened, when lo ! 
instead of a commission from Mary to lash the 
heretics, there appeared a pack of cards with 
the knave of clubs uppermost. This wonder- 
fully disconcerted the astonished doctor, who 
declared that he had received a commission, but 
knew not what had become of it. The deputy 
jestingly replied, " Let us have another com- 
mission, and we will shuffle the cards in the 



146 THE PATENT HAT. 

meanwhile." The doctor returned to the queen's 
court, received another commission, and had 
proceeded on his way back as far as the port 
from whence he was to take passage again for 
Dublin. Here he found a vessel waiting for a 
favorable wind. Before she sailed, however, he 
received the intelligence that the queen had 
died ; and thus the design of torturing the 
Protestants of Ireland was frustrated. 

When Queen Elizabeth, who succeeded the 
cruel Mary, had heard the account of this trans- 
action, she was so well pleased with the daring 
act of the hostess at Chester, Elizabeth Edmonds, 
that she bestowed upon her a handsome pension 
for life. (See Hibernia Anglicana, vol. ii.) 

But papacy was by no means the only enemy 
which the reformers had to contend with. 
Fanaticism, among some of those who pretended 
to be true friends of the reformation, assumed 
on several occasions a most alarming appear- 
ance. 

A man named Nicolas Storch, a weaver, who 
lived at the village of Zwickau, pretended to 
have received a visitation from the angel Ga- 
briel, who, he declared, revealed to him many 
mysteries. Among other things he professed to 
have received a spirit of prophecy. About the 



THE PATENT HAT. 147 

same time a senior student of Wittemberg, 
named Stubner, professed to receive, directly 
from God, the gift of interpretation. He im- 
mediately joined Storch, and soon afterward 
several others were added to their number. 

This new set of prophets and apostles, for 
such they called themselves, now set out upon 
their mission to perfect the reformation, as they 
said, and as they went they preached, saying : 
" Woe, woe ! a Church under human governors, 
corrupted like the bishops, cannot be the Church 
of Christ. The ungodly rulers of Christendom 
will soon be cast down. In five, six, or seven 
years, a time of universal desolation will come 
upon the earth. The Turk will get possession 
of Germany; the clergy, not even excepting 
those who have married, will be slain. The 
ungodly sinners shall all be destroyed; and 
when the earth shall have been purified by 
blood, supreme power shall be given to Storch, 
to install the saints in the government of the 
earth. Then shall there be one faith and one 
baptism ! The day of the Lord draweth nigh, 
and the end of all things is at hand. Woe ! 
woe ! woe !" " What is the use," continued 
they, " of such close application to the Bible ? 
Nothing is heard of but the Bible. Can the 



148 THE PATENT HAT. 

Bible preach to us? Can it suffice for our in 
struction ? If God had intended to instruct as 
by a book, would he not have given us a Bible 
direct from heaven? It is only the Spirit that 
can enlighten ! God himself speaks to us, and 
shows us what to do and say." After preaching, 
they gave an invitation for all who desired to 
receive true baptism, to come forward ; for 
" infant baptism," said they, " is of no avail 
whatever." 

Such preaching had no small effect on the 
minds of the people, as we may readily imagine, 
especially as it came from the mouths of pro- 
fessed prophets. And its effects were not wholly 
confined to the more ignorant and selfish classes 
of mankind, for we find that some among the 
learned and pious were deluded by the new 
doctrine. 

Carlostadt, a Professor in the University at 
Wittemberg, was tossed to and fro, and carried 
about by the pestilential wind. " It has become 
necessary," said he, " that we should extermin- 
ate all ungodly practices around us ;" but such 
rash steps as he took proved ineffectual for the 
work. He even went so far as to suggest the 
propriety of suppressing all the laws of the 
German empire, and substituting in their place 



THE PATENT HAT. 149 

the law of Moses. He now began to speak of 
learning as a most contemptible thing, and ad- 
vised the students to abandon their studies and 
resume their former occupations, because it was 
incumbent upon man to eat bread in the sweat 
of his face. And what was the use of studying, 
when Storch, an illiterate weaver, was now far 
ahead of the most learned doctors? The ex- 
citement ran so high in favor of this new doc- 
trine that the school was well nigh broken up. 
The result of the matter convinced Carlostadt 
that he had acted inconsiderately and unwisely ; 
and he changed his course so far as again to be- 
come a teacher of those sciences against which, 
for a while, he had so bitterly inveighed. 

Had all the partisans of this fanatical order 
been even as considerate as Carlostadt — who, 
however, never received the doctrine in toto — 
it would perhaps have died away without pro- 
ducing any great harm ; but such was not the 
case. It ended in horror and dismay. Hotning 
short of swords and muskets proved effectual in 
opening the eyes of those deluded fanatics, who 
ran into such mad excess of outrages, that they 
had to be taken in hand by the civil authorities. 

A man named Thomas Munzer was the or- 
ganizer of this new order of prophets into a 



150 THE PATENT HAT. 

band or party. He conceived the idea that God 
had called him to perfect the reformation by 
giving freedom to the peasants, who were in 
many respects imposed upon by the nobility. 
Though Miinzer is said to have possessed con- 
siderable talent, yet his actions plainly show us 
that he acted very inconsiderately, and suffered 
fanaticism to rob him of judgment. 

He harangued the ignorant multitude con- 
cerning the burdens which they had to bear, and 
exhorted them to arise at once, and drive the 
oppressors from the land. "Luther," said he, 
" has liberated men's consciences from the papal 
yoke ; but he has left them in a carnal liberty, 
and has not led them forward in spirit toward 
God. He who hath the Spirit hath true faith, 
although he should never once in all his life see 
the Holy Scriptures. The heathen and the 
Turks are better prepared to receive the Spirit 
than many of those Christians who call us en- 
thusiasts. In order to receive the Spirit we 
must mortify the flesh, wear sackcloth, neglect 
the body, be of a sad countenance, keep silence, 
forsake the haunts of men, and implore God to 
vouchsafe to us an assurance of his favor. Then 
it is that God will come unto us, and talk with 
us as he did of old with Abraham, Isaac, and 



THE PATENT HAT. 151 

Jacob. If he were not to do so, lie would not 
deserve our regard. 

Such were the doctrines of this deluded man 
who contemned human learning. His precepts 
were received as divine by numbers of the igno- 
rant, enthusiastic peasants ; others joined for the 
sake of conquest and pillage ; and others again, 
even persons of high rank, were forced, under 
pain of death, to swear allegiance to this mad- 
cap, and join his army, with which he intended 
making all men submit to live on an equality. 
After conquering a number of towns and vil- 
lages, and compelling the inhabitants to adopt 
the garb of peasants and join in with them, 
these misled wretches began to thirst after blood 
and booty. They were no longer satisfied with 
bringing princes to an equality with themselves, 
but swore they would make every nobleman 
bite the dust. Munzer was also desirous of en- 
larging his kingdom. He now enlisted tne ser- 
vices of the miners and peasants of Mansfield 
by addressing them in the following strain : — 
"When will you shake off your slumbers ? Arise, 
and fight the battle of the Lord ! The time is 
come. France, and Germany, and Italy, are 
up and doing. Forward ! forward ! forward ! 
Dr<m! dranf dran/ Heed not the cries of 



152 THE PATENT HAT. 

the ungodly. They will weep like children, — 
but be ye pitiless ! Drain ! dran ! dran ! Fire 
burns ; let your swords ever be tinged with 
blood! Dran! dran! drcm!" The peasants,, 
many of whom had ceased to work, and were 
living by plundering the storehouses of their 
landlords, nocked around the tri-colored stand- 
ard of revolt, eager for conquest. At the head 
of these Miinzer set forward, expecting doubt- 
less to bring under his sway the whole of Ger- 
many. His frantic troops laid waste everything 
before them, and alarm spread itself far and wide 
throughout the German cantons. 

Luther, who had heretofore endeavored to dis- 
band the rebels by force of argument, and to 
persuade them to retire quietly to their homes 
and be subject to the "powers that be," now 
clearly perceived that forcible measures must be 
used to secure their homes from the depreda- 
tions of madmen and robbers. Some of the 
chief rulers of Church and State had, in the 
commencement of the insurrection, suggested 
the propriety of compelling the fanatical leader 
to cease preaching his unscriptural doctrine, and 
thus put au end to the sedition by force of 
arms. Luther remonstrated against such pro- 
ceedings — telling them that they had abused 



THE PATENT HAT. 153 

their power by lording it over the poor. But 
when he found that the ignorant multitude had 
become so frenzied by the speeches of their leader, 
and the desire for plunder, that they would no 
longer listen to terms of peace, he exhorted the 
princes to withhold the sword no longer, but to 
punish the rebels, and save their homes and their 
country from further devastation. 

The imperial troops, headed by Philip, the 
young Landgrave of Hesse, and several noble 
dukes of the surrounding kingdoms, now ad- 
vanced upon Munzer and his hordes, resolved to 
subdue them, or die in the contest. When the 
armies came in sight, the peasants were at first 
seized with panic ; but their ignorant, misguided 
leader cried out to them that they would now 
see the arm of the Lord displayed in the de- 
struction of their enemies. While he was thus 
exhorting them to trust in the Holy Spirit, by 
which he professed to be guided, a rainbow was 
seen in the clouds. This the enthusiast received 
as a sure omen of a spiritual deliverance, for 
the device of a rainbow floated upon their stand- 
ards. The royal commanders having drawn up 
their forces in battle array, proposed to Munzer 
to capitulate, and thus save himself and his un- 
disciplined army from the slaughter of a well- 



154: THE PATENT HAT. 

armed soldiery. But the wretched enthusiast 
again cried out to his awe-stricken followers, 
" Never fear / I will receive all their balls in 
my sleeve !" and immediately he ordered the 
envoy from the prince's army to be cruelly mur- 
dered in sight of their troops, thus showing 
them that they need expect no mercy. The 
young Landgrave, after exhorting his soldiers to 
fight manfully, and save their wives, their chil- 
dren, and their fatherland, from these blood- 
thirsty robbers, commanded them to advance. 
His soldiers obeyed. The miserable peasants, 
on the other hand, standing in a crowd, com- 
menced singing, "Come, Holy Spirit!" vainly 
looking for a divine interposition in their behalf. 
But, alas for the poor, misguided wretches, who 
forsook the teachings of the Bible ! The first dis- 
charge of the artillery hurled death and dismay 
into their midst. They fled in the greatest con- 
sternation; the imperial troops pursued them, 
and five thousand of the fanatics perished on the 
field. After the battle was over, Miinzer was 
found by one of the soldiers concealed in a loft. 
He was taken before the officers, tried, and con- 
demned. He then received the sacrament ; 
after which his head was severed from the body. 
(See D'Aubigne's Hist. Kef., vol. iii.) 



THE PATENT HAT. 155 

Another fanatic, by the name of Grebel, caused 
considerable disturbance in the Church. He 
declared that the reformers were not the true 
followers of Christ, because they had been bap- 
tized when infants. " The baptism of infants," 
according to his creed, " is a horrible abomina- 
tion, a flagrant impiety — invented by the evil 
spirit and by Pope Nicholas II. Let us," said 
he, " form a community of true believers — for it 
is to them alone that the promise belongs — and 
let us establish a Church which shall be without 
sin." Those who received his baptism pro- 
fessed to be washed from all sin, and declared 
that they were subject to no authority but that 
of God : they professed to take his Word as the 
man of their counsel, but showed their ignorance 
concerning its teachings by refusing to be sub- 
ject unto rulers. Although they aimed at per- 
fection, they came far short of it — trusting too 
much, doubtless, to the purifying of water. Like 
some of the more strenuous immersionists of the 
present day, they did not imitate Paul in " for- 
getting those things which are behind, and reach- 
ing forth unto those things which are before," to 
" press toward the mark for the high calling of 
God in Christ Jesus," (Phil, iii, 13, 14,)— they 
did not heed the apostle's exhortation to lay aside 



156 THE PATENT HAT. 

the elements of Christ's doctrines, and to go on 
to perfection. (Heb. vi, 1.) But, on the other 
hand, after they had taken the first step in the 
Christian course, that is, through faith in the 
merits of Christ, had obeyed his commands unto 
all men to repent and be baptized, they rested 
in a false security, as if nothing more was re- 
quired of them. 

The Reformed Church in Switzerland was 
severely scourged by the arms of their enemies, 
the Catholics, who seemed again on the point of 
assuming full sway, both in Church and State. 
And do we not behold in this the chastening 
hand of the Almighty? Zwingle, with all his 
zeal, had taken an active part in the affairs of 
State. Instead of giving his undivided attention 
to the work of the ministry, he was now as legis- 
lator debating in their councils, and at the same 
time as a general was planning means of defense. 
In this multiplicity of business he was slain by 
the adversary, and his ashes were scattered to the 
four winds of heaven. He fell not alone. Hun- 
dreds of those to whom he had long and faith- 
fully preached the words of truth, fell with their 
leader by the hand of the avenger. (See D'Au- 
bign^'s Hist. Ref, vol. iv.) 

This melancholy affliction, sent upon those who 



THE PATENT HAT. 157 

were endeavoring to promote the gospel of 
Christ, should ever stand as a solemn warning to 
those who are engaged in the service of their 
Divine Master, in laboring for the salvation of 
souls, to avoid becoming engrossed in political 
strifes. 



158 THE PATENT HAT. 



CHAPTER VI. 

His words seem'd oracles 
That pierc'd their bosoms ; and each man would turn 
And gaze in wonder on his neighbor's face, 
That with the like dumb wonder answer'd him. 

You could have heard 
The beating of your pulses while he spoke. — Croly. 

The seventeenth century is styled " The Golden 
Age of European Literature." The names of 
several learned men of this century will be held 
in veneration by a grateful posterity so long as 
the noble deeds of the past shall live in history. 
Galileo, an Italian nobleman of great genius and 
learning, aided by a clear view of the motions 
of the heavenly bodies, which he obtained not 
merely by looking through his great telescope, 
but by means of the light of truth and science, as 
revealed to him by profound thought and study, 
first demonstrated the Copernican theory. But, 
for the valuable services which he rendered to 
the world by advancing truth and overthrowing 
error, he was condemned and imprisoned by the 
pope for opposing, as his highness thought, the 
true doctrines of the Church by his " heretical 
system." O ye who contend that your Church 
never errs, and her popes are infallible, what do 



THE PATENT HAT. 159 

you say to this ? Can there now be found an 
intelligent Roman Catholic who does not believe 
that day and night are produced by the diurnal 
revolution of the earth from west to east, instead 
of the sun's moving in an opposite direction 
around a broad expanse on which we are situ- 
ated? Were this question proposed to Pope 
Tius IX., would he not answer, No f And yet, 
before Galileo demonstrated the solar system, 
and even after he had made it plain to intelli- 
gent minds that were willing to reason the mat- 
ter, in order to ascertain the truth concerning 
his statements, the popes believed that the world 
was flat — yea, they imprisoned Galileo for pro- 
mulgating the true theory. They concluded, no 
doubt, that the fact of the water's remaining in 
the gulfs and ponds during the night was proof 
positive that the world did not turn over. The 
laws which govern the motions of the heavenly 
bodies, and by which the objects on their surface 
retain their positions, were so clearly demon- 
strated by another of the learned men of this 
century, that the Catholic Church was compelled, 
by admitting these proofs, to show to the world 
that she had grossly erred in condemning Galileo 
for heresy on account of his correct views of the 
planetary svstem. We refer, of course, to that 



160 THE PATENT HAT. 

Christian philosopher, Sir Isaac ISfewton, who, 
with the volume of nature spread out before him, 
and his heart brought into the focus of the Word 
of truth, reflected such a brilliant light upon the 
world that superstition, shamed out of counte- 
nance, began to slink away from the presence of 
her enemy. 

But the limits of this work will not permit us 
even to mention the names of the host of learned 
men of this century who rendered valuable ser- 
vice to the cause of religion and virtue by their 
application to literary pursuits. Descartes, 
Grotius, Hales, Taylor, Milton, Fenelon, and 
Baxter are familiar names among this long list 
of worthy scholars. 

George Fox, an itinerant preacher of this cen- 
tury, founded a worthy society of Christians 
which assumed the name of " Friends of Truth," 
or simply Friends, but called by their perse- 
cutors Quakers. Their first ministers were very 
bold and zealous in the cause of Christianity, 
and under their preaching numbers were added 
to their little band notwithstanding the fiery 
persecutions through which they were called to 
pass. William Penn, one of their most learned 
and successful leaders, established the society in 
the United States, and the noble principles which 



THE PATENT HAT. 161 

he taught will ever endear his name to the 
lovers of truth and justice. The Quakers protest 
against preaching for hire, • believing it to be 
contrary to Christ's command, (Matt, x, 8.) They 
do not, however, like some who are opposed to 
paying preachers, forget to do good and to com- 
municate, but freely give to those who devote 
their time and talents to the spread of the gospel. 
They not only amply provide for all the wants 
of their ministers, but also for those of every 
member who may be in want. "Would that 
every Christian denomination did likewise ! 

The Christian religion experienced a great 
revival in the eighteenth century, which, we 
find, was effected through the instrumentality of 
the learned and zealous. A few young men, 
ardently engaged in preparing themselves for 
future usefulness by cultivating those noble 
powers of mind which God has bestowed upon 
his intelligent creatures for great and benevolent 
purposes, entered into an agreement to meet 
together regularly on certain evenings for the 
purpose of assisting each other in reading the 
Greek Testament, that they might thus, from the 
original, get a clearer view of those instructions 
and commands which Christ transmitted to his 
Church through the sacred penmen. They 



162 THE PATENT HAT. 

earnestly prayed for light and wisdom from 
above to guide them in the path of duty, that 
they might be instrumental in doing good. 
After well qualifying themselves for the minis- 
try, they went forth as burning and shining 
lights in the world, and their influence for good 
still lives in the middle of the nineteenth cen- 
tury. John Wesley and George Whiteneld 
were two of the prominent leaders in this refor- 
mation. Why is it that the Church does not 
abound with such men? Are the clergy in gen- 
eral so wanting in intellectual powers as to be 
incapable of performing great and glorious ac- 
tions, which would render them worthy the name 
of servants of the Most High ? or have they 
settled down in the belief that there is now 
nothing great to be accomplished? We fear 
there are too many divines of this century— as 
did many that lived in the dark ages — who take 
more delight in theological disputations than in 
preaching the plain gospel truths, and who are 
ready to put forth greater exertions to gain a 
point of doctrine than to save a sinner from eter- 
nal death. That it is right for preachers who 
are able to prove the authenticity of the Bible, 
and to defend the truths of the gospel against 
modern infidels and skeptics, to engage in dis- 



THE PATENT HAT. 163 

cussions with their opponents, is clearly demon- 
strated by the Acts of the Apostles ; but such 
discussions should always be entered into for the 
sake of truth, and with the glory of God in 
view. O what a fearful doom must await those 
ministers who are spending their time and tal- 
ents in trying to gain the victory over their op- 
ponents for the sake of gaining the applause of 
their followers by upholding a theory in which 
they themselves are not fully established, while, 
at the same time, hundreds of precious souls are 
perishing around them for the want of spiritual 
food! 

O Lord ! stir up thy people to a sense of their 
duty ! Too many preachers are, as it were, 
sleeping on their arms, — not putting forth their 
united exertions against the enemy of souls, who 
will most assuredly break their ranks at every 
unguarded point. Who will arm himself, and 
come forth bravely " to the help of the Lord 
against the mighty?" Truly the Church has 
talented ministers, who are driving back the 
enemy, and rearing up mighty bulwarks against 
him by turning men from darkness to light; 
but many more such are needed. If all who are 
leaders in that mighty army, which is marching 
forward under the flying colors of the gospel 



164 THE PATENT HAT. 

banner, would come forth completely armed for 
the contest, what a glorious victory they would 
soon achieve over the enemy. Instead of tire- 
some prosing, too common in the pulpit, we 
would be moved by thrilling peals of eloquence, 
and led to consider what we are, where we are, 
and whither we are going. Thousands who now 
spend the Lord's day in idleness or wicked sports, 
would be persuaded to listen to the glorious tid- 
ings of the gospel ; and many, doubtless, con- 
strained to accept of offered mercy through the 
merits of a crucified Redeemer. But, answers 
one, I do not possess this power of eloquence. 
Perhaps not : but have you ever sought to ac- 
quire it ? Or have you not rather concluded, as 
did the monks of the fourth century, that any 
preparation on your part is unnecessary, and so 
contented yourself by dreaming away life, and 
disgusting the few who, through respect or duty, 
listen to your silly visions of imagination ? Such 
preaching is the result of laziness or ignorance. 
Every person of the nineteenth century, whose 
calling it is to preach, has it in his power so to 
prepare himself that he may, with the blessings 
of heaven, enter upon the work successfully. 
But it is an eternal truth, that he who refuses 
to put forth his own exertions will receive no 



THE PATENT HAT. 165 

help from God. Are you more defective in 
speech than was Demosthenes? If not, why 
need yon despair of making an interesting 
speaker? — one that can command the attention 
of the people and accomplish much good ? — for 
he became the prince of Grecian orators. But 
if your defects are greater than were his, had 
you not better give up the idea of becoming 
a public speaker, unless you possess great energy, 
and a firm resolution to overcome them ? for he 
truly had many and great defects. He possessed 
such a weak and stammering voice that it was 
with great difficulty he could speak so as to 
be understood, although it appears that he used 
no small effort in his attempts. In his first 
address to the people, we are told that he 
was laughed at, and interrupted by their 
clamors; for he spoke with so great violence 
that his arguments were all distorted amid his 
confusion, and amounted, in the end, to a mass 
of nonsense. On another occasion, when he 
had tried to address the people, but had been 
ridiculed for his unsightly manner, and was re- 
turning home very much dejected in spirit, he 
chanced to fall in company with Satyrus, an 
actor in the theater. Demosthenes poured out 
his grief to him in the following strain : " Al- 



166 THE PATENT HAT. 

though I am the most laborious of all orators, 
and have almost sacrificed my health to that 
application, yet I can gain no favor with the 
people. Drunken seamen and other unlettered 
persons are respectfully listened to ; while my 
addresses, prepared with labor, are disregarded, 
and I am compelled to leave the rostrum in con- 
fusion." Satyrus endeavored to console him, 
and proposed to accompany him home, and 
give him some instructions in the art of speak- 
ing. He then desired Demosthenes to get up 
before him and declaim a speech, which being 
done, Satyrus arose and repeated the very same 
words, though in such a feeling strain, accom- 
panied by such appropriate gestures, that the 
astonished pupil could hardly be made to be- 
lieve that he had ever heard this seemingly 
new piece. Demosthenes now saw clearly, 
that notwithstanding an address might be 
got up in elegant style, yet, if it were not 
delivered with an appropriate voice and ac- 
tion, it would have but little effect upon his 
hearers, — far less than one of inferior com- 
position, if properly spoken. On considering 
the matter, he resolved that he would endeavor 
to correct his voice and awkward manner of 
delivery by daily practice. Accordingly he 



THE PATENT HAT. 167 

fitted up for himself a subterranean study, in 
which he placed a large looking-glass, to enable 
him properly to adjust his motions. He over- 
came his stammering by speaking with pebbles 
in his mouth ; and strengthened his voice by 
declaiming as distinctly as he could, after hav- 
ing run up hill until he was almost out of 
breath. (See Plutarch's Lives.) 

The same historian, in speaking of Cicero, 
tells us that when that man, who became the 
greatest of orators that Eome ever knew, first 
commenced his public speaking, he had a 
harsh and unformed voice. He traveled to 
Athens, listened to her great orators, was 
charmed with their flow of elocution, and did 
not rest till he himself had gained sweetness of 
voice, both full and sonorous, and brought it to 
a key which his slender constitution could bear. 
Alas! how many preachers in this enlightened 
age of the world are destroying their constitu- 
tions with harsh words and wrong-keyed voices, 
without even taking the least pains to avoid it! 
And, added to these defects, they will presume 
to come forward to instruct their hearers in 
heavenly and divine things without having 
thoroughly premeditated a subject, and asked 
God's blessing to accompany their frail attempts. 



168 THE PATENT HAT. 

Thus they injure themselves, call forth the 
excruciating sympathies of their congregation, 
effect little or no good, and, worse than all, bring 
reproach upon the ministry. And yet some 
among this very class of preachers will deride 
those who labor to produce sound and appro- 
priate discourses, — scorning the mention of 
such a thing, and desiring the people to under- 
stand that their highness is sufficiently talented 
to preach without premeditating a subject. De- 
mosthenes' reply to his envious rivals, who told 
him that his arguments smelled of the lamp, 
was quite pertinent, and should be remembered 
by this class of preachers. " Coming prepared 
to the rostrum," said he, "is a mark of respect 
for the people." 

It must be admitted that many of the clergy 
of the nineteenth century are greatly lacking in 
qualifications to fit them for that high and re- 
sponsible station. But why should such be the 
case? Some, who are about entering upon the 
work inconsiderately, and without a suitable 
preparation on their part, answer that they have 
not the means to acquire a thorough education ; 
nor have they time to spend in such silly per- 
formances as that of declaiming before a looking- 
glass to improve their gestures, or speaking upon 



THE PATENT HAT. 169 

the sea-shore, or in the woods, for the purpose of 
cultivating their voices. Wo, you have no time ! 
It would not do for you to spend five or six 
years in working your way to get an education ! 
You must be right into the field, for your ser- 
vices are now needed! And what do you ex- 
pect your labor will amount to? Have you 
conceived the notion entertained by the fanatical 
Munzer, and those of his school, that the Lord 
will work miraculously for you ? Surely you 
have not, — you must be acting inconsiderately. 
Do you really think that you can accomplish as 
much, thus illy prepared as you are, as you could 
if you were as well prepared as Luther or 
Whitefield was on entering the ministry ? 
And is not your chance for obtaining a 
thorough preparation equally as good as was 
theirs? The former, as we have seen, during a 
part of his time at school, had to depend on the 
charity of the people for subsistence ; and so 
scanty were the means of the latter, that he 
was not above performing the labor of a hired 
servant for his widowed mother. But you will 
excuse yourselves by saying that you have not 
the means nor time to prepare for the work of 
the ministry. Consider, seriously consider, the 
actions of those who have gone before you. 



170 THE PATENT HAT, 



CHAPTEK YIL 

The wise are circumspect, maturely weigh 
The consequence of what they undertake, 
Good ends propose and fittest means apply 
To accomplish their designs. But fools, deprived 
Of reason's guidance, or in darkness grope, 
Or, unreflecting like a frantic man, 
Who on the brink of some steep precipice 
Attempts to run a race with heedless steps, 
Rush to their own perdition. — Choheleth. 

Two men, Peter Prseceps and John Prudens, 
purchased adjacent farms, which were in about 
the same condition, both being very much out 
of repair; and as the time for planting and 
sowing was not far distant, they both went to 
work in earnest at making preparations. Prse- 
ceps was of opinion that the success of raising 
a good crop depended entirely on getting it in 
very early ; so he hitched up his young horses, 
unaccustomed to hard labor, to an old rusty in- 
strument which passed for a plow, and at it he 
goes " with might and main." Although he 
finds the ground so wet that his horses almost 
mire in places, still he "puts them through" 
late and early. " For," says he, " I must com- 
mence sowing in a very short time, or else I will 



THE PATENT HAT. 171 

be too late in getting in my crop. Finally, by 
hurrying on bis horses to their utmost speed, 
notwithstanding they galled badly, and threat- 
ened to give out, he succeeded in getting his 
ground broken up in some sort of a manner, 
and his team well-nigh broken down. How- 
ever, he was not discouraged, but seemed in fine 
spirits to think that he had got through with 
such a disagreeable job. So he hooked right up 
to the harrow, and with a basket of seed on his 
arm, commenced casting it into the ground. 
On his way home that evening he met with his 
neighbor Prudens, when, after the customary 
salutation, the following colloquy took place : — 

Peter. How are you getting along with your 
seeding, John ? 

John. My seeding ! Why I have hardly com- 
menced plowing yet. 

Peter. Hardly commenced plowing? Why 
what in the world have you been about? I 
have finished breaking up my ground, and have 
been sowing to-day. I am astonished to hear 
that you are so backward with your work, for I 
supposed that you were far ahead of me. I 
thought that I had been getting along very 
slowly for a while past, for my horses were 
mighty near fagged down, and I had a 



172 THE PATENT HAT. 

serious time of it, I assure you, before I got 
through. 

John. Well, Peter, you may think that I have 
been idling away my time since I came on to the 
farm, and in fact I have but little to show in 
comparison with what you have done, yet I 
thought I had been working hard enough. I 
concluded my ground was too wet to plow, so I 
have been clearing the trash out of the way, 
making rails, and repairing the fences. 

Peter. I wish my fences were repaired, for 
they need it badly ; however, I intend to fix 
them after I get my crops in, for I am in favor 
of early sowing, and it will be encouraging you 
know, while at the dry work of fencing, to see 
the crop springing up which is to bring the 
reward for all this toil. 

John. I, too, am in favor of sowing in good 
season, but then I thought there would be 
nothing gained by commencing to seed till I 
got the briers and old stumps grubbed up and 
burned, together with all the trash that was in 
my way. 

Peter. I was bothered a great deal, while 
plowing, with the briers and stumps, and I find 
them still more bothersome in harrowing; but 
then I did not like to stop to dig them up and 



THE PATENT HAT. 173 

burn them, for fear I would be too late in get- 
ting my grain sowed : and I thought, too, that 
they would burn better after harvest, and I 
would have more leisure to attend to clearing 
up the trash at that time. 

John. I found no trouble in burning mine, for 
after piling them all up I let them remain till I 
had made and hauled my rails, and reset and 
staked my fences where they needed it, and by 
that time the trash was in fine order for burning. 

Peter. There 's another thing I never thought 
of before — my rails will have to be hauled right 
across the field in which I have been seeding. 
I wish I had my fences fixed up as you have 
yours, but then I should be very sorry indeed if 
I had all my plowing to do yet, for in that case 
I would be too late in getting my crop sowed. 

John. After I had got all this grubbing and 
fencing done, the fields still appeared too wet 
for plowing, so I commenced in a small gravelly 
patch close to the house, which I have planted 
with early corn and potatoes. 

Peter. I commenced plowing in a small dry 
patch too ; but I found there was so much turn- 
ing to do that I gave it up, thinking it would be 
more bother to plow it than the crop would be 
worth after it was raised. I wish now I had 



174 THE PATENT HAT. 

finished plowing it, and planted it as you did 
yours ; but I never so much as thought of stop- 
ping to plant any till I got the whole of my 
ground ready. 

John. I do not expect to raise a great deal on 
the lot I have planted ; but then I have learned 
my horses to understand the line perfectly, and 
can now turn them without the least trouble. 
Besides this, I have got my plow scoured up as 
bright as a new dollar. 

Peter. I had a great deal of trouble in trying 
to get my plow scoured, but the dirt would stick 
to it in spite of all my efforts. 

John. I think I can plow my ground now 
with ease, both to myself and horses, and break 
it up deep too ; for I have been trying it to-day, 
and it goes delightfully. You have no errand 
over to the village this evening, have you, 
Peter? 

Peter. No ; I believe not. 

John. I am on my way over to the office after 
the news. I believe this is the evening our ag- 
ricultural paper comes, is it not ? 

Peter. I cannot tell, for I am not taking any 
paper at present. 

John. I thought you joined the club which 
we raised for the " Cultivator 51 



THE PATENT HAT. 175 

Peter. !Nb ; I talked of it, but concluded I 
was not able to take a paper ; besides, I have no 
time for reading one if I had it. 

John. I have already saved more than double 
what mine costs me for a year just by following 
the plan suggested by the editor in last month's 
paper for preparing feed ; and my horses look 
much better now, and can stand more labor than 
when I fed dry corn. Besides the pleasure and 
advantage which the papers afford me, I would 
not be without them for treble their cost, on ac- 
count of the instruction they afford my children. 
As to reading, I find plenty of time to get 
through with three weeklies and two semi- 
monthlies, besides considerable book-reading. I 
usually take about an hour at noon, while my 
horses are resting ; and then I find considerable 
time of evenings. Call over, Peter, and look at 
the papers. I think you will conclude to sub- 
scribe for one of them, at least ; and I know it 
would be found profitable both to yourself and 
family. 

So they separated. Peter, weary and fretful, 
after his day's labor — not from having done so 
much, but from bawling at his jaded team, and 
jerking the knotted lines — puts his horses into 
the stable, throws in a little corn, eats his supper 



176 THE PATENT HAT. 

without speaking a pleasant word to his forlorn 
companion, or to his ignorant, unmannerly chil- 
dren, and goes to bed with a full stomach. Poor 
soul ! where is his enjoyment? In sleep, do you 
answer ? Alas ! could you but realize his visions 
of the night, you would say, it is not there. 
Look at the expressions of his face, [see cut] and 
the motions of his limbs, as he sleeps. Is he at 
rest ? Nay ! rest is to him a stranger. He now 
imagines his harrow is fast in a brier-root, and his 
horses refuse to pull it out, notwithstanding he 
has exerted himself in making them try it, till 
the sweat rolls in great drops from his face. 
Finding his efforts unavailing to extricate the 
harrow by such means, he stoops to raise it with 
his hands, premeditating at the same time the 
most direful imprecations upon his horses for 
stalling at a brittle root, which he declares is 
not half so thick as his little finger. But, lo ! 
just as he lifted up the corner, his team made 
another desperate surge, causing him to scratch 
his hand badly upon the brier, and, worse still, 
jerking the harrow from his hands and bringing 
it down upon his leg, tearing his pants in a most 
unsightly manner, and leaving the print of its 
iron tooth in the flesh. 

But let us turn from this sad picture and visit 




Ill 




PR^CEPS TAKING HIS REST. 



THE PATENT HAT. 179 

John at his home. He enters with his agricul- 
tural paper, and also a letter ; for he not only 
finds time to read the papers, but also to write a 
letter occasionally to his friends. His cheerful 
wife, and pleasant little ones, seat themselves 
around the table to listen to the news. First, 
the letter is opened and read. It is from his 
wife's brother, the nurseryman, who lives in 
the adjoining county. He informs John that he 
purposes paying them a visit the next week, and 
will bring with him a few choice fruit trees, if 
he has a good place in readiness to set them. 
They are all delighted with the news of this in- 
tended visit ; and John thinks the potatoe-patch 
will be an excellent place to set the trees. He 
next opens the paper, and finds in it a corre- 
spondence from the editor, in reply to a letter 
of inquiry which he had sent him concerning 
the best method of draining wet lands. The 
editor recommends under-draining, and describes 
the best and cheapest method of performing it. 
John is well convinced that the productiveness 
of some of his flat land would be greatly in- 
creased by draining, so he concludes to send over 
in the morning for his Irish neighbor, Patrick, 
to do the ditching. After reading some other 
correspondence, and results of experiments in 



180 THE PATENT HAT. 

farming, he listens to his wife and oldest daugh- 
ter, while reading the articles in the ladies' and 
youths' department. The paper is then laid 
aside, and with their minds stored with new 
ideas, they pour forth their pleasing thoughts in 
happy converse. 

To close the exercises of the evening, the 
worthy farmer takes down the old family Bible, 
and after reading a chapter, and explaining some 
parts of it to his children, he humbly kneels and 
returns thanks to his heavenly Father for the 
blessings which he permits him to enjoy, and 
asks his protection over them during the defense- 
less hours of sleep. Then, with a clear conscience, 
he retires to rest, and his sleep is sweet. Thus 
matters went on from day to day, and Prudens 
and his family were happy and prosperous. 

But such was not the case with Prseceps. 
Poor Peter ! he continued sowing and planting, 
though not uninterruptedly, for his neighbor's 
hogs crept through his fence every day, and 
would root up a few rows of corn or potatoes. 
About half his time was taken up in trying to 
keep them out, but all to no purpose ; for the 
hogs had found that many of the rails were rot- 
ten, and not a pannel was left uninspected in 
their course of examination, till one was found 



THE PATENT HAT. 181 

that would yield to their intruding snouts. After 
he got through planting, he concluded that he 
would make rails and repair his fences. Accord- 
ingly he started to the woods with his tools, fell 
a tree, and proceeded to chopping and splitting ; 
but the weather had now become warm, and the 
sap was in the timber, which made the work go 
very hard. Peter sat down to wipe the sweat, 
and casting his eyes over the fields in which he 
had sown and planted his crop, which was now 
to cheer him while fencing, he beheld his 
horses in the cornfield, nipping off the tender 
plants. He ran and hallooed, but the horses 
kept on eating till he came almost up to them, 
when they galloped to the further side of the 
field, and went at the corn again as if they had 
a perfect right to pasture on it. When Peter 
came up again, they again retreated ; and thus 
they kept him running across the field till he was 
well nigh out of breath. After he got them 
out he went to work and made a couple of yokes, 
which took him the balance of that day ; but his 
horses had a taste of the corn, and preferred 
it to the short pasture, so they pushed down the 
unstaked fence and went in with their yokes on. 
Peter was determined to match them, and, catch- 
ing the roguish horse, he took off his yoke, and 



182 THE PATENT HAT. 

put a sharp pin in it, so that it would stick in his 
breast if he went to pushing against the fence. 
On letting him go, with this new appendage to 
his yoke, he struck the poor fellow with the bri- 
dle, as if to let him know that he had now "fixed 
him." The horse, in trying to run, stumbled, 
and, pitching forward, the cruel pin pierced his 
vitals. This was no small loss to Peter, for he 
was now without a team, and not able to buy 
another horse. He bore it, however, with con- 
siderable resignation, as he was fully revenged 
on the provoking robber. After he had finished 
splitting his timber into rails, he went to one of 
his neighbors to see if he could borrow a horse 
to help haul them. But his neighbor could not 
spare one at that time ; and the corn soon grew so 
big that he did not like to drive across it, so the 
rails lay there and rotted. In this manner Peter 
dragged along through two or three years, dur- 
ing which time he never knew an hour's enjoy- 
ment; for his neighbor's stock, as well as his 
own, was every now and then breaking through 
his fences and destroying his grain : his ill-treated 
wife had become peevish and crabbed, and his 
neglected children were everlastingly crying. 
His farm went to sale under the hammer of the 
sheriff, and Prudens bought it for a home for 



THE PATENT HAT. 183 

one of his children, — " For whosoever hath, to 
him shall be given, and he shall have more 
abundance ; but whosoever hath not, from him 
shall be taken away, even that he hath." 

Ye who are trying to preach without having 
made any preparation on your part, hear — Is 
there not a very close analogy between your at- 
tempts to labor in the vineyard of your Master, 
and Peter's attempt at farming ? You both com- 
menced sowing without considering the condi- 
tion of your fields, and how you might labor in 
them to the best advantage. 

He who feels it his duty to preach the ever- 
lasting gospel, if his mind is uncultivated, and 
he is ignorant in respect to the teachings of the 
Bible, has a great work to perform before he is 
prepared to go forth as a regular minister of 
Christ, to preach the gospel, and defend its doc- 
trine ; or, in other words, to sow the seed and 
protect the growing grain. All the thorns of 
pride must be rooted out of his heart, or they 
will continually torment him, and greatly ob- 
struct his usefulness. He must have his doctrine 
well fenced in, by a clear understanding of the 
Scriptures, so that when he commences preach- 
ing, scoffers will not be able to overthrow his 
teachings, and destroy all the good effects which 



184 THE PATENT HAT. 

they have produced. This should be a matter 
of serious consideration. But, alas ! how many 
there are, like Prseceps, who know the importance 
of a good fence, but, dreading the labor, or for 
some other reason, go right to sowing the seed, 
expecting to secure the crop afterward. And 
what is the result? Do we not hear them con- 
tinually regretting that they did not persevere 
in obtaining a good education before they 
engaged in the ministry % Yes ; they now find 
that their sphere of usefulness is confined within 
very limited bounds for the want of it; and 
there are a great many obstacles in the way 
of their making that advancement which they 
had anticipated. Having never learned to ap- 
ply their minds to study, they finally despair 
of ever making a substantial fence, and consent 
to drag along through life by trying to patch up 
the breaches made by prowling wolves which 
are continually vexing them by their unmerciful 
depredations. 

Young man, do you feel it your duty to labor 
in the vineyard of your Master ? Let me entreat 
you to consider your high calling. Look at the 
qualifications, labors, and results, of those vine- 
dressers who preceded you. Do not deprive 
yourselves of the advantages of a liberal educa- 



THE PATENT HAT. 185 

tion, because you feel that you ought to be at 
work. You can plant your early patch while 
you are preparing to sow in the great field of 
action ; that is, during your course of prepara- 
tion, you can faithfully exhort your friends and 
neighbors to forsake their sins and flee from the 
wrath to come. You will thus not only accom- 
plish much of good for others, but will also ac- 
quire so much experience by this practice, that, 
when prepared to go forth into the world, you 
will be enabled to labor with great ease and 
effect. In fact, he who goes forth to the work 
without such practice, will be very apt to find 
that his rusty plow will not cut the soil smoothly ; 
but, clogging up, permit the dirt to roll back in 
the furrow. If he attempt to remedy this, by 
urging on his horses at an unnatural gait, he will 
soon fag them down : that is, by using too great 
exertion to make his preaching effective, he will 
exhaust his physical force. He who would labor 
effectively, then, must neither go forth hastily to 
the work without a prepartion, nor yet restrain 
his tongue from speaking a good word when- 
ever an opportunity presents itself. 

What was the example of the Saviour respect- 
ing this ? Did he rush forth inconsiderately iuto 

his Father's work ? By no means. Thirty vears 

8* 



186 THE PATENT HAT. 

of his life were passed before he commenced his 
public ministry. Although we have but little 
information as to the manner of his life, up to 
this time, yet that little gives us reason to sup- 
pose that he let no opportunity pass unimproved 
for saying a good word. Even when but twelve 
years of age, we learn that he was found by his 
parents, seated among the most learned of the 
land, listening to their arguments and proposing 
questions. And hear his reply, when asked why 
he had forsaken them : — " Know ye not," said he, 
"that I must be about my Father's business?" 
His great forerunner, John the Baptist, com- 
menced his public ministry also at about the 
same age ; and, judging from his success in call- 
ing sinners to repentance, he must have been a 
speaker of no ordinary merit ; for it is said that 
Jerusalem, and all Judea, and all the region 
round about Jordan, went out to him, and were 
baptized in Jordan, confessing their sins. 

" But," says one, " preachers are not suffi- 
ciently rewarded by the people to justify them 
in spending their time and money, besides the 
drudgery of years' study in acquiring a good 
education. Men who qualify themselves for 
other pursuits are generally justly compensated 
for their labors." We would ask, Is not the 



THE PATENT HAT. 



187 



power to enlighten hundreds of your fellow- 
beings, that they may see the error of their 
ways, and be constrained to work out their soul's 
salvation, a sufficient reward to induce you to 
labor for it with indefatigable zeal? Can he 
who will refuse to put forth his greatest exer- 
tions to save others from their sins, because he 
is better paid for attending to something else, 
hope himself to be saved? Surely no person 
who expects to gain a home in heaven will hesi- 
tate on this account. 

But, after all, it must be admitted that preach- 
ers have like passions with other men. And it 
is doubtless often the cause of sore trial to some 
of them to behold her, who is the dearest to them 
of all on earth— that one who has placed her 
affections on them, and on them is dependent 
for all the common comforts of life— placed in 
circumstances not the most desirable, by far, 
that they could wish ; and especially when they 
consider that it could just as well as not be other- 
wise, if those to whom they preach would exer- 
cise that liberality which the Bible enjoins upon 
them. The law of Moses says, " Thou shalt not 
muzzle the ox when he treadeth out the corn." 
And hear Paul's comments on this passage :— 
" If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is 



188 THE PATENT HAT. 

it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal 
things ? . . . . Do ye not know that they which 
minister about holy things live of the things of 
the temple ? and they which wait at the altar 
are partakers at the altar? Even so hath the 
Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel 
should live of the gospel." And yet, notwith- 
standing all this, there are many preachers, 
especially among itinerants, and those having 
charge of rather small or penurious congrega- 
tions, who receive so stinted a compensation for 
their labors, that they have, of necessity, to de- 
prive themselves of many of the common com- 
forts of life. Their children must grow up in 
ignorance, because they have not the means to 
support them at school. ~No marvel that it 
should be a common saying — " Preachers gen- 
erally have bad boys." The circumstances of 
ministers, especially those who have to spend 
much of their time away from home, are not 
equal to those of men in most other pursuits, for 
bringing up a virtuous and intelligent family. 
The farmer can always find useful and healthful 
employment for his children, and thus, by teach- 
ing them to be industrious, will save them from 
falling into some of the many vices which are the 
offspring of idleness. So with the mechanic and 



THE PATENT HAT. 189 

tradesman ; they have usually something in their 
line of business at which their sons can assist 
them. But preachers' sons cannot assist them 
in their calling. " "Well," asks one, " might they 
not put them out to farmers or mechanics, and 
thus keep them from running the streets?" 
We must admit that preachers sometimes are 
justly blamed for not doing so, instead of 
suffering their sons to grow up in idleness. But 
we must recollect that it is not always an easy 
matter to find a good and, in all respects, suit- 
able place to put a child. And besides, minis- 
ters being of like passions with others, are liable 
to be too indulgent to hire their sons out to per- 
form manual labor, and so allow them to loiter 
about home, vainly hoping that they will grow 
up to become useful men. 

" Well, what can be done to prevent preachers 
from, spoiling their children ?" We answer, — It 
is the bounden duty of Church members to see 
that their pastors receive a sufficient compensa- 
tion for their labors, to afford them the means 
of supporting their children at some good school. 
But, alas ! the resources of many preachers will 
not admit of this — nay, will not even allow 
the purchase of books for their own reading. 
I once heard an old pastor remark, — one who 



190 THE PATENT HAT. 

has labored many years, and spent his whole 
time in trying to diffuse the light of the gos- 
pel, — that he would like very much to have 
certain books, which he mentioned, and, among 
others, a Commentary on the Bible. "But," 
said he, " I cannot afford it." Gracious heavens ! 
A preacher cannot afford a Commentary on the 
Bible ! If this is not muzzling the mouth of the 
ox, we have failed to get a correct understanding 
of Paul's views of that passage as given in 
1 Cor. ix. 

But it is a lamentable fact, that many pastors 
receive no more for their labors than will merely 
support their families, and that, too, while the 
majority of their flock is living in affluent cir- 
cumstances. It is truly shameful that men who 
zealously devote their time, talents, and energy, 
to the advancement of Christianity, should want 
for any of the necessaries of life, and especially 
that they should be deprived of drinking at any 
of the fountains of knowledge, for the want of a 
few dollars wherewith to procure the means, 
when those to whom they preach could bounti- 
fully supply all, and yet never feel any lack on 
account of their donations. And, as we have 
before said, worthy ministers should receive 
more than will merely supply their own wants, 



THE PATENT HAT. 191 

where the circumstances of the people will admit 
of it ; and where will yon find a congregation 
that is not able to support their pastor, and give 
him something with which to perform deeds of 
charity ? 

Of that Church member who is hoarding away 
his thousands, about which, in a few years, his 
heirs will be quarreling, and who refuses to 
give liberally for the support of the gospel, 
we would ask, How dwells the love of God in 
thy heart? Members should not consider their 
duty discharged, merely because they have paid 
their quarterly or yearly quotas, where preach- 
ers are thus paid ; but they should give liberally, 
as God hath given them abundance. "Not cal- 
culating the preachers necessary expenses, lest 
he should get a few dollars more than it will 
take to supply the daily wants of his family, and 
he be led into temptation thereby ; but placing 
sufficient confidence in him, to believe that he 
will make as good use of a little spare change 
as themselves. But some may ask, Would not 
this liberality to ministers have the same effect 
as large salaries did in the dark ages? "Would 
not ungodly persons disgrace this sacred office 
for the sake of its resources ? We answer, no ; 
for we would not recommend large stated sala- 



192 THE PATENT HAT. 

ries, which might be a temptation to the ava- 
ricious ; but voluntary gifts to worthy ministers, 
who are doing all in their power for the ad- 
vancement of pure religion, showing us, by their 
works, that they themselves possess this pearl of 
great price, which James tells us is, "To visit 
the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and 
to keep himself unspotted from the world." 

Neander, in speaking of the large salaries of 
the bishops of the fourth century, says: — "And 
if it was often the case, especially in the larger 
towns, that bishops might be found who applied 
the great incomes of their churches to diffuse 
around them an air of state and splendor, there 
were, on the other hand, shining examples of 
other bishops who, living frugally themselves, 
applied all they had to spare for the support of 
charitable institutions. Beyond question, it lay 
in the power of the bishops to make use of the 
largest revenues for good and benevolent pur- 
poses ; for they not only had to provide for the 
expense of preserving the churches, of main- 
taining divine service, of supporting the clergy, 
of supplying the means of subsistence for the 
poor, who, in the great cities, such as Constanti- 
nople, were very numerous, and but too often 
suffered to live in indolence ; but, also, as a 



THE PATENT HAT. 193 

general thing, the establishments for the recep- 
tion of strangers, the alms-houses, the institu- 
tions for the support of helpless, aged persons, 
the hospital and orphan-houses, originated in 
the churches, and the churches had to provide 
the means for their support." — Hist of Chris- 
tian Rel., vol. ii, p. 137. 

It is stated of John Wesley, that when he re- 
ceived thirty pounds for his year's expenses, he 
lived on twenty-eight and gave two to the poor. 
The next year his salary being increased to sixty 
pounds, he gave away thirty-two. It was after- 
ward increased to ninety, and again to one hun- 
dred and twenty pounds a year ; but he still lived 
on the twenty-eight, and gave the balance to 
the needy and destitute. 

What numerous blessings result from such 
praiseworthy actions! Not only are the wants 
of suffering humanity thus relieved, but abun- 
dant blessings are poured out on the gracious 
donors ; for we learn that it is more blessed to 
give than receive. 

But in giving for the support of the gospel 
we should be very careful not to do it grudg- 
ingly, or as a matter of compulsion, lest we lose 
our reward ; for the Bible tells us that " The 
Lord loveth a cheerful giver." The smallest 



194 THE PATENT HAT. 

sum, if given with a willing heart, will not lose 
its reward. The poor widow was commended 
by Christ for her contribution, though it con- 
sisted of but two mites, equal in value to only 
one farthing, or about two-fifths of a cent. Who 
cannot do this much for the support of the gos- 
pel ? And is it not the duty of every one to do 
something? Should it not be the inquiry of 
every professor of Christianity, What can I do 
for the cause of my Master that will accomplish 
the greatest amount of good for my fellow-men ? 
And how shall we arrive at the true answer to 
this question, and be assured that we are doing 
right? By learning and obeying the teachings 
of the Bible, most assuredly, our own consciences 
bearing us witness. And do we not learn from 
the Scriptures, and from the history of the Church 
since the times of the apostles, that the greatest 
amount of good has been accomplished through 
the labors of learned and zealous Christians? 
And is it not our duty to support the hands of 
such, that Christianity may prevail? — to do 
everything in our power that will enable them 
to devote themselves unreservedly to the labors 
of the Gospel? Christians of the nineteenth 
century, ; arouse, and consider what you are 
doing and what is to be done ! Are you pray- 



THE PATENT HAT. .195 

ing for the advancement of Christianity, and 
encouraging, by every means in your power, 
those who are laboring for the salvation of souls ? 
Are you endeavoring to make their field of 
labor more productive and inviting? Are you 
encouraging them to spare no pains in properly 
qualifying themselves for the work, and then 
suitably rewarding them for their toil, thus 
affording them the means of doing greater 
good? 



196 THE PATENT HAT. 



CHAPTEE YHI. 

Is not the care of souls a load sufficient ? 
Are not your holy stipends paid for this ? 
Were you not bred apart from worldly noise 
To study souls, their cures and their diseases ? 
The province of the soul is large enough 
To fill up every cranny of your time, 
And leave you much to answer, if one wretch 
Be damn'd by your neglect. — Dryden. 

Christians, there is a great call to you at this 
time to put forth your united exertions in the 
cause you have espoused. No longer to quarrel 
among yourselves about doctrinal points, but to 
come forth in mighty phalanx, and drive back 
the powers of darkness. 

It is true that light and knowledge, which 
tend to the advancement and firm establishment 
of Christianity, are being widely diffused of late 
throughout the length and breadth of our land 
— but it is not without opposition. The papal 
authority is doing all in its power for the sup- 
pression of so extensive Bible reading, and of our 
increasingly liberal system of education. Such 
has been the policy of the Catholic Fathers, 
since they first began, in the dark ages, to take 



THE PATENT HAT. 197 

advantage of the ignorance of their people, for 
the purpose of pouring wealth into their own 
coffers, and those of the Church, to Tceep the 
people blindfolded, particularly as regards the 
truths of the Bible ; for well they know that to 
educate and enlighten the mass of their follow- 
ers, would be the destruction of their system of 
religion. The funds raised for the use of Bible 
societies, and other educational purposes, they 
would gladly see expended in building convents 
and nunneries, the abodes of superstition, under 
the garb of sanctity, — yea the very sinks of 
vice. 

May God, in his infinite mercy, open the eyes 
of the Catholics of the rising generation, and 
save them from these wretched haunts of infamy. 
O ye wicked leaders, who entice your fellow 
mortals to forsake the family circle, and under 
pretence of chastity, to lead impure and unholy 
lives, do your conscience bear you witness that 
you are doing right t 

Although you make such high pretensions to 
purity yourselves — even above that of St. Peter, 
from whom your popes profess to have received 
the keys of the kingdom of heaven — insomuch 
that you have set aside God's holy institution of 
matrimony, as being too impure for you, do you 



198 THE PATENT HAT. 

not act the hypocrite ? And, if you continue in 
your course of wickedness, can you hope for 
aught else than the hypocrite's reward ? Think 
not that because you are able to dupe your 
blinded brethren, and to disgrace your confiding 
sisters, that you will be able to deceive an all- 
wise and just God, who will bring all your dark 
deeds to light. consider your actions, and 
the usages of your Church, and see if they are 
all in accordance with the teachings of God's 
holy Word ! If you could accomplish your de- 
signs, would not another term of dark ages be 
dated from the close of the present century? 
Would you not suppress the freedom of speech 
and the liberty of the press? Would you not 
keep the people in ignorance, that you might 
riot in sensual pleasures, through your ungodly 
impositions upon them ? By examining the past 
actions of your Church, and her present move- 
ments, we are led to believe that you would bring 
all this wretchedness upon the Christian Church 
if it were in your power so to do ; and that you 
are striving, at this very time, by secret and un- 
holy means, to gain the ascendency. For what 
purpose are you arming your hordes with carnal 
weapons? Do you teach them that it is by 
these that the cause of Christ is to be defended 



THE PATENT HAT. 199 

and advanced? And do you believe that yon 
are doing God's service in arming your flocks 
with such weapons ? If so, are you praying for 
those whose blood you are premeditating to 
shed? 

My Protestant brethren, are not these hostile 
weapons preparing for our destruction? And 
should we not also arm ourselves that we may 
be prepared for defense ? Though some of old 
trusted in chariots, and some in horses, and 
though our Catholic brethren seem to put their 
trust in carnal weapons, shall not we remember 
the name of the Lord our God? "For the 
weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but 
mighty through God to the pulling down of 
strongholds." Let us put on the whole armor 
of God, and fight manfully the battles of the 
Lord, against all sin and iniquity, in whatever 
form it may appear. And is not the Catholic 
. Church our enemy ? Have we not protested 
against the authority of the pope, by being truly 
convinced that he does not possess the power 
which he professes ? And have not they armed 
themselves against us? It stands us in hand, 
then, as true soldiers of the cross, to buckle on 
the sword of the Spirit, and the helmet of salva- 
tion, and with the shield of faith in hand, to 



200 THE PATENT HAT. 

march forth in one mighty host against the pope 
and his legions. But how are we to bring our 
artillery to bear upon this enemy ? Will he face 
us manfully ? Nay, he is more skulking in his 
thirst for blood than the fierce hyena or the 
cruel savage. He will neither listen to us in 
stating our terms of peace, nor yet read them 
when presented in writing for his consideration. 
E"ay, the crafty pope, and selfish priests, well 
know that if their people were to read the Bible 
for themselves, and hear the gospel preached, 
which proclaims free salvation through faith in 
the atonement of Christ, without feeing their 
honors for officiating, that their eyes would be 
opened, and they would no longer submit to 
their ungodly impositions — that they would no 
longer pay them for impiously assuming to con- 
fer a pardon for sins. 

This is why they want to keep them in ig- 
norance. Yea, they will allow their poor de-. 
luded followers to revel in drunkenness, and run 
into the excess of folly and crime, for the sake 
of bringing them often to the confessional, that 
they may there draw from them their hard- 
earned pittance. 

" Their sheep have crusts, and they the bread ; 
The chips, and they the cheer : 



THE PATENT HAT. 201 

They have the fleece, and eke the flesh, 
(0 seely sheep the while !) 
The corn is theirs — let others thresh, 
Their hands they may not file." 

Yes, truly, they show but little regard for the 
lives of the sheep, but seem diligently to look 
after the fleece and the mutton. And they now 
seem to be premeditating a scheme for increas- 
ing their traffic by conquest. And shall we lie 
supinely upon our couches and suffer them to 
take our liberties from us? My Protestant 
brethren, if we do not make a proper use of the 
light, liberty, and knowledge, which we now 
enjoy, by doing all in our power for the ad- 
vancement of truth, is there not a danger that 
God will suffer the enemies of liberty — the Cath- 
olic dignitaries — to rob us of these blessings? 
O consider — act upon this matter before it shall 
be too late ! See their attempts to sap the very 
foundation of the religion of Christ, by their 
enmity to all free institutions of learning, and 
their animosity to Bible reading. Yea, they are 
getting wrathful at the advancement of these 
their foes, and are at this time aiming to give a 
death-blow to our freedom. Shall we, without 
any consideration of the matter, say that we 
are too powerful for them, and, resting in 



202 THE PATENT HAT. 

false security, remain inactive till the blow is 
given ? 

Protestants, your liberties are in danger ! To 
arms, to arms ! But how, we repeat it, are we, 
to bring our arms to bear upon this dastardly 
foe ? What was the example of the great Cap- 
tain of our Salvation, Jesus Christ, when he had 
fallen into the hands of enemies that were seek- 
ing to destroy him with their carnal weapons? 
" Father forgive them," said he, " for they know 
not what they do." Though they acted toward 
him in the most malicious manner, yet still he 
loved them and prayed for them. And what 
were his directions to his followers in combating 
their adversaries ? " Love your enemies," says 
he, "bless them that curse you, do good to them 
that hate you, and pray for them that despite- 
fully use you, and persecute you." "We are not 
to avenge ourselves with carnal weapons, for 
" To me belongeth vengeance and recompense," 
saith the Lord. Returning evil for evil, or using 
harsh and unchristian means, will never change 
the hearts of our wicked enemies. God alone 
can bring about this change. Then is it not our 
bounden duty, as Christians, to love the Roman 
Catholics and pray for them ? Many of them 
are very zealous worshipers, and would think 



THE PATENT HAT. 203 

they were doing God's service in butchering the 
Protestants in cold blood, if their pope, whom 
they are taught to believe is infallible, should 
command them so to do. But is it in the heart 
of any Christian Protestant to hate their mis- 
guided fellow-men, who follow the pope without 
a thought that he can lead them wrong ? JSTay, 
he who hates them does not possess the spirit of 
Christianity, and has great need of praying to 
God to change his own wicked heart, lest he be 
a castaway. We should hate all the wicked 
deeds which they commit through the liberty 
of their blind guides ; and this should make us 
the more zealous in praying for them, that God 
would give them to see the error of their ways, 
and bring them into the glorious light and lib- 
erty of the gospel. 

Christian Protestants ! have you not, by your 
fierce contentions among each other, given to the 
Catholic dignitaries some plausible reasons for 
opposing the general reading of the Scriptures ? 
Have you not, by your unchristian acts and con- 
versation toward the Catholics, caused many of 
them to think, from observation, that the Protest- 
ant religion is indeed a fearful heresy, as taught 
by their leaders ? And would not this be a very 
reasonable conclusion for them to come to, all 



204 THE PATENT HAT. 

things considered ? They, as a matter of course, 
are strongly prejudiced in favor of the mother 
Church in which they have been reared up ; 
yea, they are taught to believe that she never 
errs, and consequently they cannot see her faults, 
neither any good in whatsoever she condemns. 
Besides this they can hardly be said to think or 
act for themselves. True, they have far greater 
liberties to enjoy the pleasures of sin than Protest- 
ant Christians have, for they are taught to be- 
lieve that they can receive absolution for any 
ordinary crime they wish to commit, merely by 
confessing to the priest and satisfying him for 
his trouble. Protestants, on the other hand, are 
taught from the Holy Scriptures that to God 
alone belongs forgiveness of sins, and that he is 
not to be mocked by persons desiring to continue 
in their wickedness ; but that he will forgive only 
such as do sincerely repent and desire to be 
freed from their sins, and to live a more holy 
life. But aside from the privilege before men- 
tioned — and what a glorious privilege it is for a 
professed Christian to be allowed by his pastor 
to get drunk, quarrel, fight, and kill — the Cath- 
olics are held in the most abject slavery by the 
written and traditionary creed of their Church, 
which they are solemnly sworn to hold and con- 



THE PATENT HAT. 205 

fess entire and inviolate to the last breath of their 
life. They are not allowed to hear Protestants 
preach or lecture, nor to read any of their writ- 
ings, except such as may have received the sanc- 
tion of their arrogant masters. They are not al- 
lowed to read the former doings of their Church, 
and most especially if it be written by a Prot- 
estant, or even by one of their own priests who 
has become disgusted by beholding the sins and 
iniquities practiced by the holy orders. And 
why are Catholics held under such restraint by 
their pope and priests ? Is it not plainly to be 
seen that these rulers want to keep them in 
ignorance ? 

Protestants are at liberty to go and hear the 
Catholic priest mumble over his set forms in 
Latin, and see him go through the various rites 
and ceremonies which are calculated to dupe 
the ignorant flock, but neither to edify nor profit 
any one, for which reason they do not see fit to 
go oftener than merely to gratify their curiosity. 
They are also at liberty to read Catholic books, 
and thus learn how tenaciously the " Holy Fath- 
ers " still hold to many of the abuses and cor- 
ruptions which crept into the mother Church 
during the dark ages, and which rendered her 
an abomination in the sight of heaven. But the 



206 THE PATENT HAT. 

crafty priests would persuade their simple fol- 
lowers that they are not capable of seeing, hear- 
ing, reasoning, and knowing for themselves, be- 
cause — they are not lecurned. Yes, they keep 
their blindfolded followers in the dark, and in- 
struct them not to come to the light, because 
they cannot see, and that to attempt it would 
only be to injure their eyes. Many of them 
have even learned to " love darkness rather than 
light, because their deeds are evil." And how 
can we expect anything else than to see many 
members of that Church even more wicked than 
those who make no profession at all ? JSTeed we 
marvel that this denomination is so largely repre- 
sented in the prisons and houses of correction in 
our large cities ? Nay, it is more strange that 
there are even so many honest ones among a 
people who are prohibited, as they are, from 
reading the Holy Scriptures, "which," Paul 
says, " are able to make us wise unto salvation 
through faith which is in Christ Jesus." If any 
one doubts whether their Church does prohibit 
the reading of the Scriptures, even their own re- 
ceived translation, let him read their rules con- 
cerning prohibited books, of which the follow 
ing is an extract : — 

"Since, by experiment it is manifest that if 



THE PATENT HAT. 207 

the Holy Bible in the common tongue be uni- 
versally and indiscrimately permitted, more 
harm than utility will thence arise, on account 
of the temerity of men — in this particular let it 
be determined by the judgment of the Bishop or 
Inquisitor — so that, with his counsel, the parish 
ministers or confessors can grant the reading of 
the Bible in the common tongue, translated by 
Catholic authors, to those who they shall have 
understood can, from reading of this kind, re- 
ceive not loss but increase of faith and piety — 
which license let them have in writing. Bat he 
who shall presume, without such license, to read 
or have the Bible, unless it first be given up to 
the ordinary, cannot recewe absolution of sins." 
Pope Pius VII., in an epistle sent to the Arch- 
bishop of Poland, respecting the Bible societies, 
says : — " We have been truly shocked at this 
most crafty device, by which the very founda- 
tions of religion are undermined. We have de- 
liberated upon the measures proper to be adopted 
by our pontifical authority, in order to remedy 
and abolish this pestilence as far as possible — 
this defilement of the faith so imminently dan- 
gerous to souls. It becomes episcopal duty that 
you first of all expose the wickedness of this ne- 
farious scheme. It is evident from experience 



208 THE PATENT HAT. 

that the Holy Scriptures, when circulated in the 
vulgar tongue, have, through the temerity of 
men, produced more harm than benefit. Warn 
the people intrusted to your care, that they fall 
not into the snares prepared for their everlast- 
ing ruin." 

Now, is it the ruination of souls, or the de- 
struction of their own unholy traffic, that has so 
long kept, and still keeps the pope and bishops 
in a state of alarm at the spread of the Scrip- 
tures? If they are thus troubled lest some of 
their people, by reading the Bible, should fail 
to get a proper understanding of parts of it, and 
thus, by not fulfilling all its divine requirements, 
should lose their immortal souls, then why do 
they not use greater efforts to instruct them in 
its holy teachings? Why do they not inform 
them that it teaches that no drunkard nor unre- 
generate person can enter into the kingdom of 
heaven ? — especially as there are so many drunk- 
ards among the lower order of persons in their 
Church ? But, surely, they love these poor souls % 
Yes, they have the same love for them that the 
wolf has for the lamb. They love to see them 
coming up to the confessional with their earn- 
ings in their pockets. 

But who ever heard of a priest making a busi- 



THE PATENT HAT. 209 

ness of visiting the poor of his flock, and giving 
them good advice and kind instructions ? " But," 
says a Catholic, "that would be beneath the 
dignity of the ' Holy Fathers.' " True enough — 
wonder we had not thought of that. They have 
to consult with each other on matters of greater 
importance, when they find a time of leisure 
and convenience. 

The " Eight Eeverend Fathers," of late, held a 
great Council at Rome, where, through the power 
of his Highness, Pope Pius IX., it has been de- 
clared to the world that the blessed Yirgin Mary 
was conceived and born without any spots of 
original sin — a subject which has long been a 
matter of controversy in their Church. But now, 
although a period of almost two thousand years 
has elapsed since the Yirgin Mary was born into 
the world, Pope Pius IX. has determined that 
she was immaculate — something never before 
known to a certainty. What need now of there 
being any further matters of dispute in the 
Church, since the mfallihle pontificate has so 
much increased in heavenly wisdom ? But, does 
any one, except the most stupid and easily-duped 
of the Catholics, believe that Pope Pius IX. and 
his bishops are more holy and wise than any of 

the Fathers who lived before them? And if 
9* 



210 THE PATENT HAT. 

there be any truth in the assertion that the 
blessed Virgin Mary was immaculate, does any 
one suppose that it would never, till this time, 
have been an established fact in the Catholic 
Church — especially since she claims to be infal- 
lible — were it a matter of any importance ? Yea, 
is there any one who, after considering the mat- 
ter, can suppose, for a moment, that it w r as only 
to discuss such a question as this, and make an 
unscriptural assertion to the world, that this 
great Council was convened ? 

Protestants, be not deceived ! The Church of 
Rome has in view something more dear to her 
heart than a concern for the manner of the Vir- 
gin's conception. The establishment of popery 
on the ruins of Protestantism is what they have 
at heart. Had we not better be looking into 
the matter, and prepare to stand firm in the 
defense of truth? Our enemy, the pope, is 
powerful ; he has legions that are ready to 
do his bidding, whatever it may be. But, 
Protestants, we too, are powerful, if we will 
only make use of the means which God has 
placed within our reach. Let us not with a 
blind, superstitious faith, trust that God will 
avenge us of our adversaries, without a firm, 
decided action on our part ; neither let us trust 



THE PATENT HAT. 211 

alone in an arm of flesh, for if we do, we will 
most assuredly fall. Christian Protestants, awake 
to your duty ! 

Do you not believe the Bible is the revealed 
Word of God ? And is not God able to perform 
whatsoever things he hath therein declared ? Is 
it not written, "The effectual fervent prayer of 
a righteous man availeth much ?" And are not 
Christians commanded to pray for all that are in 
authority; that we may lead a quiet and peace- 
able life in all godliness and honesty? Chris- 
tians, can you discharge your duty without 
earnestly praying for those who are in authority 
in the Catholic Church, that we may live in 
peace and quietness with them ? 

Ministers of Christ, are you doing your duty in 
this respect ? Have you counseled your charges 
to pray for those crafty men, who, if they had the 
power they are aiming after, would soon bring 
us into a state of heathenish darkness, and cause 
us, as humble suppliants, to prostrate ourselves 
before them? Who can tell what the result 
would be if all the true worshipers of God 
would, Jacob-like, wrestle in mighty prayer for 
a glorious meeting with those who are plotting 
our destruction. Let all who desire to live at 
peace with all men, and to see the cause of Christ 



212 THE PATENT HAT. 

gloriously advancing, pray, earnestly pray, for 
God's special blessing to rest upon the pope and 
bishops of the Catholic Church. 

Christian Catholics, cannot you join with us 
in raising our united hearts and voices in ad- 
dressing the throne of Heaven with the follow- 
ing prayer ? 

Almighty God, who knowest the hearts of all 
men, grant, we humbly beseech thee, to hear 
our prayers for the pope and bishops of the 
Catholic Church. Grant, we pray thee, to show 
unto each one of them their condition before 
thee; and, if in any of their actions they have 
done aught that is contrary to thy holy will, may 
they be led heartily to repent for the same. O ! 
forbid that the precious blood of thy dear Son, our 
Saviour, shall have been poured out in vain for 
the washing away of all their sins ; but may they 
be washed and made pure, as thou art pure. 
Grant to richly pour thy Holy Spirit into their 
hearts, to direct them in the ways of truth and 
righteousness. O ! help them in all their future 
actions to have an eye single to thy glory, and 
to set a pure and holy example over those whose 
souls they watch as they that must give account, 
that they may do it with joy and not with grief. 
Help them, we pray thee, to labor faithfully 



THE PATENT HAT. 213 

and effectually in thy vineyard, and may they 
be instrumental in thy hands in leading many 
precious souls to Christ. O ! thou most High and 
Holy One, who inhabitest eternity, deign to hear 
these our humble petitions, and answer them to 
the joy of our souls, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. Amen. 



214 THE PATENT HAT. 



CHAPTEE IX. 

Consideration like an angel came, 

And whipp'd the offending Adam out of him, 

Leaving his body as a paradise, 

To envelope and contain celestial spirits. — Shakspeare. 

Kind readers, I have, with the speed of mod- 
ern improvement, conducted you through a long, 
and, I trust, pleasant jaunt, down the swift-flow- 
ing stream of time. We started, you recollect, 
at the first station on our line, which connects 
with the old track, at a point about four thou- 
sand years this side where Adam first com- 
menced operations at the garden of Eden. And 
now, in order that you may receive the greatest 
possible benefit from this ride, it is necessary 
that you reflect on the passing events which we 
observed on the right hand and on the left. To 
some of you, I am aware, the trip might have 
been rendered more agreeable had we traveled 
more slowly, and given further time for observa- 
tion by the way. But you know, as a general 
thing, that people now a days prefer riding on 
the lightning train, and that but very few will 



THE PATENT HAT. ^15 

get aboard of any other. To you who wish to 
form a more extensive acquaintance with the 
country bordering along this part of the stream, 
a consideration of the things which you have 
seen in this hasty j ourney will prove of great ad- 
vantage. It will enable you to recognize many 
persons and places when you come across them 
in traveling on the slow-running way-boats, or 
on Mosheims, which comes nearly through, or 
on foot, perchance, down the long though pleas- 
ant path marked out by Neander. To you who 
have traveled the road in some of the above 
conveyances, or more private ones, a considera- 
tion of what you have now seen will bring back 
fresh to your memory many familiar scenes. 
And to you who never have traveled this road 
leisurely, and who do not purpose so doing, a care- 
ful consideration of the various events you have 
witnessed in this journey will surely well pay. 

At the commencement of the trip, you recol- 
lect, we beheld crowds of people who appeared 
very intelligent and aspiring, and yet they were 
groveling in that ignorance which God is said 
to have winked at — overlooked. [Acts xvii, 30.] 
Yes, they were in total darkness concerning the 
plan of salvation, and were offering sacrifices be- 
fore the images of their imaginary gods, and 



216 THE PATENT HAT. 

goddesses, such as Jupiter, Yenus, Bacchus, 
and Ceres. And had we stopped and listened 
to them, we should have found that their mouths 
were filled with songs of thanksgiving and ado- 
ration to these ideal beings; for their immortal 
bards, Yirgil and Horace, who composed in such 
lofty strains, had but just stepped off the stage of 
action. What a thought — these idolatrous peo- 
ple zealously worshiping the gods of their im- 
agination, both by sacrifice and songs of praise ! 
and we, brought up in the knowledge of the true 
and living God, and sitting under the sound of 
the gospel, yet more negligent in our acts of de- 
votion than they ! 

We beheld, on the other hand, at this point, 
another set of people, who professed to worship 
the God of their fathers — and some of them were 
indeed exceedingly strict in the observance of 
the letter of the law — but instead of possessing 
the true spirit of religion, their hearts were filled 
with pride. When the blessed Saviour came 
along we saw them cast a scornful look at him, 
because he was not clothed in princely royalty, 
as they had desired to see him. How very sim- 
ilar were they to some at the present time, who 
think themselves surpassingly wise in things per- 
taining to godliness, and yet their proud hearts 



THE PATENT HAT. 217 

deny the Saviour admission. Their spirits have 
never been humbled, and made a fit temple for 
the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. What a fear- 
ful thing to reject the blessed Saviour! 

"We next noticed that Christ chose unassum- 
ing men, of very humble occupations, for apos- 
tles, whom he thoroughly instructed in the plan 
of salvation, and how they might most effectually 
call sinners to repentance. O that ministers of 
the gospel in this age of the world would strive, 
by every exertion in their power, to attain quali- 
fications equal, if possible, to those possessed by 
the apostles. 

After passing on a little further we beheld 
some of the good old Christians building school- 
houses for the instruction of their youth, and 
especially such as were to act as ministers. 
Would that Christians in this age of the world 
took a deeper interest in having their sons and 
daughters properly educated, instead of being 
wholly engrossed in hoarding up for them such 
treasures as too frequently prove their present, 
and, in some cases, we awfully fear, their eternal 
ruin! Would that those who have it in their 
power so to do would aid those young men who 
are striving to qualify themselves to work effect- 
ually in the vineyard of their Master, but who 



218 THE PATENT HAT. 

have to endure many privations, and pass through 
many discouragements in order to succeed! 

We noticed on the one hand, as we passed 
along, that wherever there were good means for 
the instruction of laborers, that the grain looked 
nourishing ; and, on the other hand, that wher- 
ever this was neglected, rank weeds were chok- 
ing out the crop. Coming down to the fourth 
century we beheld a man zealously engaged in 
erecting houses, and furnishing means for the 
instruction of laborers — and at that point were 
grown some patches of fine grain. But from 
thence, for a great distance down, we observed 
that those who held the lands were mostly a 
very ignorant, indolent-looking set 'of men ; and 
a view of their plantations proved to us that 
their looks were not deceiving ; for we beheld 
their fields overrun with briers and brambles, 
with but here and there a stock of wheat. 

While passing along by the lonely habitations 
of these indolent husbandmen, we witnessed a 
number of mean tricks resorted to by them for 
cheating their hands, which we find are still 
adhered to by a certain class of individuals, who 

"Amuse mankind 
With idle tales of flames and torturing fiends, 
And starry crowns for patient sufferings here ; 



THE PATENT HAT. 219 

Yes, gull the crowd, and gain their earthly goods, 
For feigned reversions in a heavenly state." 

On arriving at the commencement of the fif- 
teenth century we saw a heroic laborer, who took 
a straight-forward course in discharging his duty, 
and who so inspired those around him with the 
principles of truth, that many of them would not 
suffer themselves longer to be gulled. This so 
exasperated the wicked husbandmen that they 
seized the laborer, bound him to a stake, and 
there, before our eyes, burned him to death. 

Coming down a hundred years further we 
beheld a master-workman zealously instructing 
his fellows in the ways of well-doing, for which 
he also was arraigned by these opposers of truth. 
They did not succeed, however, in burning him ; 
but he, on the contrary, succeeded in scattering 
the truth to such an extent, that all the oppo- 
sition that could be brought to bear against it 
could not stop its progress. After this we be- 
held larger crops along the balance of the way ; 
for the laborers were now much better instruct- 
ed in the art of tillage. A little below this, 
however, they did not appear quite so flour- 
ishing, and in places began even to assume a 
sickly appearance ; and when we had reached 
a point about two hundred years below this, we 



220 THE PATENT HAT. 

beheld a few promising-looking young men 
studying diligently into the art of tillage, which 
they acquired so perfectly that a large and flour- 
ishing crop was the result of their toil. As we 
neared our landing station I pointed out to you 
some of the things which are now going on in 
our bustling world, and which most assuredly 
claim your serious consideration. Yes, kind 
reader, it is your duty to consider the present 
condition of the field, and to do all in your power 
to prevent the enemy from sowing it thicker 
with tares. 

When time has finished rolling up the balance 
of the nineteenth century, and the scroll has 
been laid aside among the things that were, 
would you have it said by the passing observer, 
that the field during our age began to assume a 
most melancholy appearance ? If not, then be 
up and doing. Reflect upon the past, act upon 
the present, and thus prepare for the futare. 
Yes, consider well what has been done, observe 
closely what is being done, and perform promptly 
what now should be done. Pattern after the 
virtuous and discreet actions of those successful 
laborers who have gone before you ; shun all 
their follies, and guard well every weak point, 
and you will live to purpose in the world as did 



THE PATENT HAT. 221 

they. Yea, resolve that it shall be your steady 

aim through life to accomplish all the good you 

possibly can; and, with this determination, at 

once 

" Awake . . . stretch every nerve, 
And press with vigor on." 

Arid O ! let me beseech you, lay aside your 
prejudices. Labor not merely for the advance- 
ment of your denomination, but for the advance- 
ment of pure and undefiled religion — for the 
unity of the Church, and for the salvation of im- 
mortal souls. And especially ye who profess to 
be Christ's ministers, beware lest souls should 
perish through your unchristian-like contentions. 
Be not like "some" who, says an eminent the- 
ologian, "are so outrageously wedded to their 
own creed and religious system that they would 
rather let sinners perish than suffer those who 
differ from them to become the instruments of 
their salvation. Even the good that is done they 
either deny or suspect, because the person does 
not follow them." Christian ministers! have 
you by word or action forbidden any one from 
casting out sin and uncleanness, merely because 
he follows not in your company ? O consider what 
you are doing ! If through the labors of your 
brethren who do not understand some passages 



222 THE PATENT HAT. 

of Scripture just as you do, souls are brought to 
abhor what they once loved, that is, sin and in- 
iquity, and to delight in the worship of God, 
from which they before stood aloof, are you at 
liberty to say to them — Sirs, you are doing 
wrong, you must either stop this work or fol- 
low with us, for we alone are following Christ? 
Is not the Saviour's reply to John, (Mark ix, 39,) 
— when that pious apostle had told him that 
they had forbidden one from casting out devils 
in his name, because he followed not with them 
— equally applicable to you if you are acting 
thus ? Be assured that those who are laboring 
in the name of Christ, and whose labors are 
owned and blessed of God in the conversion of 
souls, are not working against you, if you are 
truly and zealously laboring to show sinners the 
error of their ways, and to point them to the 
Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the 
world. Therefore, forbid them not from doing 
good in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, but 
bid them God-speed. But if, after a careful study 
of the Scriptures with an unprej udiced mind for 
truth . and truth alone, you are led to believe 
that they have erred in their understanding of 
certain passages, and that by a proper under- 
standing of the same they would be enabled to 



THE PATENT HAT. 223 

labor more successfully in calling sinners to re- 
pentance, is it not your duty to do all in your 
power to convince them of their error? And 
should you not reason the matter with them in 
a Christian-like spirit, with a desire to convince, 
or be convinced of truth, alone for the glory of 
God? 

Servants of the living God be not bigoted, be 
not slothful ! Labor diligently to know your 
duty, your whole duty, and to perform it in the 
sight of that All-seeing Judge as you would 
wish you had when you shall be summoned to 
appear before his bar. Truly there is a mighty 
work for you to do. God has put the means 
into your hands of accomplishing great good 
for your fellow-men ; but he demands of you to 
make use of those means. You are not com- 
manded to sit down in ignorance and expect to 
receive divine wisdom through visions and other 
supernatural means to aid you in discharging 
your duty. !N"o, you must put forth your own 
exertions. Do any of you believe that God re- 
quires nothing more of his servants than a serious 
deportment, long prayers, and faith in him, that 
he will perform the balance ? Is this the doc- 
trine you preach to your flocks ? If so, wherein 
do you differ from Miinzer? Are you not fan- 



224 THE PATENT HAT. 

atical? O consider this matter! No longer 
allow your Lord's money to lie hid in the earth. 
Dig it up at once and put it to use. Urge 
upon your hearers the necessity of making a 
proper use of the talents which God has intrusted 
to their care. 

But while, on the one hand, you are shunning 
the fearful mists of fanaticism, in which so many 
have been lost, you must also keep a look out 
on the other, lest you run upon those dangerous 
rocks of formality around which float the wrecks 
of many a shattered vessel. Tea, a dead formal 
religion is a far greater curse to the Church than 
even fanaticisim itself; for among those who 
run into this extreme are frequently found the 
learned and influential. And we awfully fear 
that this kind of religion is becoming popular at 
this time, even to an alarming extent ; for there 
are thousands of poor weak mortals who will 
follow the popular class, even at the risk of their 
eternal interest. 

Ye who preach that using extra efforts for the 
conversion of souls, and that the idea of sinners 
becoming awakened to a feeling sense of their 
condition, and earnestly inquiring as they did at 
the day of Pentecost, "Men and brethren what 
shall we do?" are altogether fanatical notions, 



THE PATENT HAT. 225 

consider, O consider how you are acting ! You 
preach that " persons should always be calm in 
religious matters," and yet at the same time do 
you not allow that men cannot well avoid be- 
coming excited when they are out for the presi- 
dency, or for a seat in Congress, yea to fill the 
office of constable ? And do you not look upon 
it as natural and right that the friends of these 
candidates should use no small efforts for their 
promotion to office ? Do you not at times even 
feel inclined to take the "stump" yourselves? 
" O consistency, thou art a jewel!" 

Beware of " having a form of godliness but de- 
nying the power thereof." Remember the scribes 
and Pharisees who were so exact in the observance 
of all the outward ceremonies of the law, or at 
least professed so to be, and yet, after all, made 
the commandments of God of no effect by their 
traditions. Ministers of Christ, you can never 
discharge your duties without being humble, 
zealous, and active. No matter if you have 
traveled in every path upon the hill of science, 
till you are perfectly familiar with all its parts ; 
yea, have even topped its very loftiest peak, from 
whence you can take in at one view all its varied 
scenery, unless you possess a meek and lowly 

spirit, and such a love toward God and your 
10 



226 THE PATENT HAT. 

fellow-men as constrains you to use every exer- 
tion for the salvation of immortal souls, you 
are not engaged as you should be — you are 
living to but little purpose in this sinful world. 
Are you in possession of such a spirit as this, 
and do you obey all its promptings? Do you 
visit your flocks at their homes for the purpose 
of conversing with them about their Christian 
hopes and fears, and with a desire to do them 
good % Are you sure that you are doing all that 
is required of you — all the good that lies in your 
power ? Consider ! 

In all your doings do you take the Word of 
God as your text-book, and his Holy Spirit as 
your guide ? If you carefully and zealously per- 
form every duty into which these will lead you, 
your lives will be filled up with glorious actions, 
which shall redound to the glory of God, and 
the everlasting salvation of thousands of your 
race. 

In conclusion, I entreat every individual who 
looks into this little volume to pause — meditate 
upon the reality and the shortness of life ! And 
I appeal to you, kind reader, to propose to your- 
self and answer these questions. Am I doing 
the best I can for my own well being, and for 
the happiness of those around me ? Am I using, 



THE PATENT HAT. 227 

to the best advantage, the talents which God has 
entrusted to my care 1 Or might I not, by put- 
ting forth greater exertions, live to better pur- 
pose in the world ? My fellow traveler to the 
bar of God, these are serious considerations. 
Every one of us has received at least one talent, 
for the use of which we will have to give an ac- 
count at the great day of reckoning. And O ! 
how dreadful will be that summons, " Come 
forth to judgment," to such as have digged in 
the earth and hid their Lord's money — to those 
who have not acted to the best of their ability ! 
We who have received but one talent will be 
chargeable for the use of no more ; but we will 
have to render a strict account for the manner 
in which we have employed that one. You 
who have received two will have twice as much 
to answer for; and of him who has received 
five, five times as much will be required. Each 
will have to answer for the amount given ; and, 
gentle reader, no matter who you are, or what 
your circumstances may be in life, you have 
some important part to perform. 

No one was created without some capabilities 
for doing good ; and those who make their lives 
a public charge upon the world, without doing 
something useful in return, are not fulfilling 



228 THE PATENT HAT. 

their destiny. Nay, no one can live in the dis- 
charge of duty without doing good to others, for 
we are commanded so to do ; and we are taught 
to say, after we have done all things com- 
manded us, "We are unprofitable servants; 
we have done that which was our duty to do." 
Who is there that cannot make an improve- 
ment upon the past ? Let us, my friends, con- 
sider our failings, and resolve to overcome them 
as fast as possible, God being our helper. And 
let us adopt the resolution made by one who 
left his mark in the world : — " Resolved, that 
I will make the most of myself that can possibly 
be made out of the stuff ;" — and then let us put 
that resolution into execution, by using every 
means in our power for qualifying ourselves for 
usefulness. If we are not already in possession 
of it, the first thing for us to seek is God's right- 
eousness. We are then continually to seek to 
know God's will concerning us, and our duty 
toward him and to our fellow-men. We must 
be careful to let no opportunity slip for speaking 
a kind and encouraging word, or otherwise per- 
forming a good act. Who can tell the amount 
of good that may result from a suitable word 
spoken in season, or from some act which of 
itself might seem of small moment 1 



THE PATENT HAT. 229 

Although we may think that it will matter 
but little if we should omit certain duties, when 
circumstances seem to render the act one of mi- 
nor importance, or when the cross bears heavily 
upon us, yet we know not what an influence for 
good or evil the performance or neglect of that 
single duty may have. 

I cannot refrain from narrating here an anec- 
dote relative to a very able and successful minis- 
ter who resided in one of our eastern cities. He 
had entered into an agreement with a country 
clergyman to preach to his congregation by way 
of exchange. The day came round, and with it 
came an uncommon snow-storm ; but this man 
of God could not feel easy to remain at home 
because it was a little disagreeable out of doors, 
for he knew not but some one might turn out, 
and that he might be instrumental in doing him 
good. So, when the time for starting came, he 
conferred not with flesh and blood, but set out 
on horseback, and pushed his way through the 
snow-drifts and the pelting storm, till he arrived 
at the place where duty called him. On enter- 
ing the church he found no one there. He as- 
cended the pulpit, however, and awaited the 
assembling of the congregation. Presently one 
man entered, walked part way up the aisle, and, 



230 THE PATENT HaT, 

looking around, took a seat. The time for com- 
mencing service had arrived, and what must he 
do ? Must he speak to this man concerning the 
inclemency of the weather, and depart without 
giving him a word of Christian advice? No: 
such a course could not satisfy his conscience. 
He had a message from God to proclaim, and 
he knew not but it might be the means of con- 
verting that one soul; and so he read, sung, 
preached, and prayed, with as much concern as 
if scores had been present. When the exercises 
were over, and he had pronounced the benedic- 
tion, he went down to shake hands with his 
"congregation;" but he had got the start of 
him, having left the church. So the minister re- 
turned home without learning the name or resi- 
dence of his hearer, or knowing whether or not 
the sermon had produced any effect upon him. 
Seasons rolled round, and still he heard not of 
this man. About twenty years afterward, how- 
ever, the old clergyman was traveling in one of 
the western states, and on stopping at a village, 
he was accosted by a stranger who familiarly 
called him by name. 

"I do not remember you," said the clergy- 
man. 

" I suppose not," said the stranger ; " but we 



THE PATENT HAT. 231 

spent two hours together in a house, alone, once, 
in a storm." 

"I do not recollect it, sir," added the old 
minister; "pray, where was it?" 

" Do you remember preaching, twenty years 
ago, in , to a single person ?" 

"Yes, yes," said the old clergyman, "I do, 
indeed ; and, if you are the man, I have been 
wishing to see you ever since." 

"I am the man, sir," replied the stranger; 
" and that sermon saved my soul, made a minis- 
ter of me, and yonder is my church ! The con- 
verts of that sermon are all over the state !" 

" Behold how great a matter a little fire kin- 
dleth !" There is no telling where the influence 
of a single word, spoken in the fear of God, and 
with an eye single to his glory, will have an end. 
It may run on parallel with time, and its fruits 
be gathered in eternity. And, on the other 
hand, there is no telling the end of the misery 
that may result from the neglect of a single duty. 

Truly, my friends, it is a serious thing to trifle 
with the things which "conscience dictates to 
be done," although they may appear to us mat- 
ters of little importance. Small acts frequently 
result in momentous consequences. 

Let us, then, in the future be more careful 



232 THE PATENT HAT. 

to improve every opportunity, both great and 
small, for doing good, so that whenever called 
on we may be ready to return our Lord's money 
with usury. 

May He who holdeth the stars in his right- 
hand deign to bless this humble effort of one of 
his most unworthy creatures, and make it instru- 
mental in causing some poor, inconsiderate 
mortal, to think seriously, and act wisely, is the 
prayer of the author. 



THE END. 



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